Refuse firm claims union trying to ‘derail’ company
The claim follows a repeated request by SIPTU general president Jack O’Connor, at a protest rally in Waterford, for the Mr Binman company to re-engage with its members through the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
41 workers are on strike at three of Mr Binman’s facilities – Ballylunch in Carrick-on-Suir; Dungarvan and Co Limerick. Mr Binman, a household and commercial bin collection company, operates mainly in counties Tipperary, Waterford, Limerick and Kilkenny.
The workers’ anger originally stemmed from a 10% pay cut, announced by the company in March. However, the following day, a letter informed workers that pay cuts were to be introduced, ranging from 10% to 49%.
Other issues included revised conditions on overtime which would be paid after 45 hours of work per week. The workers in Carrick-on-Suir have been on strike for over two months.
Regional manager with Mr Binman, Conor McElvaney, in a letter to one worker dated March 26, recognised that a planned “43% reduction to your current package” was very substantial. But his letter stated it was “the only viable alternative” the company could offer short of rationalisation and redundancy.
Mr Binman also claimed there was a recently-formed SIPTU-led minority in one depot that “want to disrupt all our work”.
Managing director with Mr Binman, Martin Sheahan, said: “The facts of this alleged dispute are very simple – there has been no pay cut of 49%. The vast majority of our workforce – around 90% of it – is working away as normal.
“We have a recently-formed, SIPTU-led minority in one depot who want to disrupt all our work. SIPTU Waterford is trying to cause a minority of people to derail Mr Binman, but it will not stop us going about our daily work as normal” Mr Sheahan. “SIPTU are refusing to recognise the vast majority of Mr Binman workers who work with their Employee Representation Committee and deal directly with the management.”
Mr Sheahan said “SIPTU want to be the only show in town”.
“SIPTU Waterford has a separate agenda here and this hidden agenda is keeping good workers away from their jobs needlessly.”
However, SIPTU branch official Davy Lane yesterday said: “Nobody is out to derail the company. We want to sit down and talk so I strongly refute that.”
He also insisted 41 of about 55 workers at the Carrick-on-Suir facility were currently on strike.
Mr Lane said the company was “giving out false information” regarding the issues. “All the lads want to go back to work for the company. I’m totally surprised at the (firm’s) comments”.
