Waterford bin staff in dispute over tracking device scheme

PUBLIC BINS in Waterford city were full and overflowing yesterday after about 80 staff at Waterford City Council refused to work in an unofficial dispute with management.

The dispute centres on the installation of a global positioning system (GPS) in the local authority’s vehicles.

Most of the council’s outdoor staff walked from its principal depot at Carrickpherish in the morning to the House of Waterford Crystal building on The Mall, where the local authority’s offices are housed.

The refusal to work followed failure to reach an agreement with the workers regarding the “tracking system”, said staff spokesman Stephen O’Donohue, a Siptu member.

The installation of the system formed part of a local plan under the Croke Park agreement as discussed with the relevant union, according to director of services at the council Colette Byrne.

However, Mr O’Donohue said the workers had still not been told why the system was being installed. “They failed to consult with us and they have no agreement in place.”

Mr O’Donohue added that the council had not satisfied workers regarding “how the information obtained” from the GPS would be used.

The council told workers on Tuesday that the devices would be installed, but not turned on until June 1st.

“From what information we’ve gathered, once this system is in the lorry, even when the lorry is not switched on, the system is tracking and that’s where the trouble is arising,” said Mr O’Donohue. “We pre-warned the council that there would be an issue regarding the system.”

Some vehicles have already been fitted with the devices.

“One of our [Siptu] members was targeted . . . for refusing to take out one of these vehicles and the unofficial action ensued,” he said.

Ms Byrne said the council “regrets any inconvenience caused to the public due to unofficial industrial action by a number of employees”. The installation of “fleet management technology does not involve any change in work practice or loss of earnings for any of the employees involved”, she added.

She said a dispute resolution process existed under the Croke Park agreement that had not been adhered to. Ms Byrne added that efforts were continuing to resolve the dispute and she hoped the “impact on the delivery of council services in the city will be minimised”.

Management at the council confirmed it would not bring the GPS system into use until an agreement had been reached with Siptu. “If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter can be referred to a third party as provided for under the Croke Park agreement,” said Ms Byrne.

“Waterford City Council will abide by the decision of any such third party.”

She said the council’s management “remain available to meet with union representatives in an effort to resolve this issue speedily”.