Workers at Bord na Móna Recycling to strike in protest at sale to KWD

Union representatives will meet with BNM Recycling management on Thursday March 20 in a bid to avert strike action

Workers at Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, Bord na Móna (BNM) Recycling, will hold a two-day strike ain 12 counties next month as they oppose plans to privatise the company. 

Workers at Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, Bord na Móna (BNM) Recycling, will hold a two-day strike in 12 counties next month as they oppose plans to privatise the company. 

The strike will take place on April 2 and April 3 in protest at a plan to sell off BNM Recycling to KWD. Bord na Móna Recycling is the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service. Siptu union members have raised fears over their future conditions in any potential sale and a ballot for strike action was carried overwhelmingly by 95% to 5%. BNM Recycling services in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Meath, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow will be affected by the strike.

"No legally sound guarantees have been provided to our members that their hard fought for terms and conditions of employment will be maintained by a new employer," said Siptu divisional organiser, Adrian Kane. 

Union representatives will meet with Bord na Móna Recycling management on Thursday March 20 in a bid to avert strike action. Siptu organiser Pat McCabe said this would be the final opportunity for the company and Government "to engage seriously with Union representatives. We are also renewing our request that the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien, meets with a delegation of Bord na Móna Recycling workers and union organisers to discuss this move by the State out of waste management and recycling.”