LRC to lead talks in Waterford refuse strike

BOTH sides in a dispute which sparked a refuse strike in Waterford have agreed to involve the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in talks.

A spokesman for Waterford City Council has confirmed that the council will enter into discussions at the LRC on the issues that prompted unofficial industrial action among some of its employees.

As many as 50 staff were involved in the unofficial action. It began when a private contractor was brought into the city by the local authority to spray its parks.

Workers walked off the job almost a fortnight ago and were joined the next day by further members of staff. Refuse was not collected on the day and other municipal services were also halted, until staff agreed to return to work. They had already balloted in favour of industrial action on a number of grounds.

Council management said yesterday they first suggested over a month ago that the avenue of the LRC be pursued. The spokesman said that “considerable inconvenience” to the people of Waterford could have been averted had this course been followed from the outset.

The LRC date has been set for April 22. Staff involved in the SIPTU trade union working with the city council agreed to the session last week, on the strict proviso that all their grievances be aired at such a session.

SIPTU spokesman Davy Lane said it was not correct for the council to say it had agreed to the LRC talks from the outset. He accused the council of only agreeing to go to the LRC after the union began balloting its members on industrial action.

“By not trying to resolve this from the outset, we feel that they are in breach of Clause 7 of the Sustaining Progress public sector pay agreement,” said Mr Lane.

If the matter is not resolved through the LRC, it will go to the Labour Court.

While members of the SIPTU union have balloted in favour of industrial action, no action can be taken until third party negotiations have been exhausted.