Response to Unite ballot on waste management
The following is a statement from Jacqui Kennedy, Corporate Director for Place at Birmingham City Council, in relation to an announcement from Unite that they plan to ballot members in relation to the development of a Future Operating Model for waste management services.
Jacqui said: “As has been widely reported, the council needs to save £171million by 2021 and this is a challenge being faced by all service areas within the council.
“In terms of waste management, pressures and demands on the service continue, and mean we have to find ways of saving in the region of £10million more on an annual basis. Doing nothing is simply not an option. We need to offer our services in a more productive, effective and efficient way.
“The proposals we are consulting on will achieve all of these objectives and bring the council’s waste management service into line with many other councils nationally.
“For some staff this could mean taking up a different role, and there are sufficient vacancies within the new structure proposal to ensure that all affected staff have this opportunity. We are also looking at how we can make promotion opportunities available for those potentially affected.
“What we have developed is a carefully considered and informed model that will ensure our services are on a sound and affordable footing for the future.
“The council remains focussed on ensuring that all our services make best use of public funds and that we deliver high quality services to the public.
“It is evident that there are more cost effective ways of working in refuse collection. The consultation period has already been extended twice at the request of the trades unions to enable them to develop some alternative proposals.
“Management are committed to working closely with union colleagues to help them produce alternative proposals. It is therefore disappointing this action is being encouraged whilst we continue to work so closely.”
ENDS
