Scots council bin workers told they’ll have more than £100 docked from wages

Glasgow, Scotland, UK. 12h April, 2024: UK Weather: Sunshine and showers over the city. Credit Gerard Ferry/Alamy Live NewsCredit: Alamy

FURIOUS bin workers have reportedly been told more than £100 will be docked from their wages just weeks before Christmas.

It comes after Glasgow City Council bosses redeployed street cleaning staff to residential bin collection duties to cope with extra demand over Christmas.

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City street cleaners were ordered to take up a new role due to increasing demands over ChristmasCredit: Alamy

GMB Scotland’s Chris Mitchell is battling to resolve the issueCredit: PA

Unhappy workers were ordered to sit through a training video to assist them with the new role they’d been assigned to carry out over the festive period.

But several staff members stormed out of the health and safety briefing in protest, according to Glasgow Times.

It’s understood that city hall chiefs will slash employees’ paypackets following the walkout incident.

The Scottish Sun understands the workers have already been paid their Christmas wages and any deductions would not impact this payslip.

Union bosses said the course was “outdated and inadequate” in offering protection to their members – many of whom are in their 60s.

GMB cleansing convener Chris Mitchell is now battling to have the decision reversed.

He said: “It is a disgrace, we simply will not accept this.

“These people did nothing wrong. They didn’t ask to be moved to a different department and for many the role is just too physical and taxing.

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“Many of these guys are coming towards the end of their careers and hauling bins all over the place is difficult manual work.

“It is not their fault if the council doesn’t have enough people to get the bins emptied over the busy festive period.

“We certainly aren’t going to see them targeted for taking a stand against what the council are looking to do.”

Mr Mitchell added: “To pull a stunt like this and take money from people’s pockets at Christmas as beyond bah humbug.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman commented: “The Christmas and New Year period sees higher than normal levels of household and recycling waste, as well as an estimated 250,000 bins uncollected due to the impact of public holidays.

“To prioritise cleansing services across the city during the lead up to and after the public holidays, the council requires additional trained staff from across the service to support household collections.

“In line with previous years, only fully trained and suitable staff undertake these collection duties.

Scots bin workers to have more than £100 docked from their wages before ChristmasCredit: Alamy

“We operate a robust training programme, and we are satisfied that the role being asked of staff is safe to carry out.

“Staff and trade unions collectively participate in regular Health & Safety forums where any concerns are discussed, and the appropriate steps are taken to ensure all work activities take place safely.

“Where staff elect not to follow instruction, the normal council employment policies will be applied.”