Strike Action By Bord Na Mona Recycling Workers Scheduled For Next Wednesday Has Been Deferred

It follows acceptance by management that their conditions of employment must be protected in any proposed sale of the company

SIPTU members employed by Bord na Móna Recycling, the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, have deferred strike action, following acceptance by management that their conditions of employment must be protected in any proposed sale of the company.

The strike was scheduled for Wednesday April 2nd and would've affected bin collections for many customers in Kildare, however, SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “Following acceptance in principle by management of the concerns our members raised in relation to the protection of their terms and conditions of employment if a proposed sale of the company takes place, they have decided to defer strike action scheduled to take place next week. 

“The decision was made following a meeting of Shop Stewards yesterday (Thursday, 27th March) and has now been relayed to management. The deferral period will allow for talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in relation to ensuring our members will maintain their current terms and conditions of employment if any sale of the company goes ahead. These talks will begin on Monday (31st March). The WRC talks will occur within a set timeframe with all issues to be discussed." he said.

“We believe the most appropriate way to ensure our members terms and conditions of employment are protected is through the establishment of a Registered Employment Agreement." he added.

Mr Kane continued “It remains the position of our members that selling the last remaining publicly owned domestic waste collection service into the private sector is a backwards step in relation to the future of the industry in Ireland. We continue to seek a meeting with the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien, to discuss the wider context of this dispute and the best way forward for the domestic waste collection sector.”