Fife binmen could take strike action after controversial changes to refuse collections were given the green light.
The executive committee of Fife Council this week gave the go-ahead for bin collections between 6am and 9pm, where staff would work a two-shift system over the working week.
New shift patterns, which will save the council an estimated £800,000 a year, will be introduced from Monday October 15.
Trade union Unison initially rejected the proposals but later accepted them. Unite still rejects the new working arrangements and intends to ballot its members on industrial action.
Unite’s regional organiser Richard Whyte said: ”The paperwork for the industrial action ballot is now with the regional secretary and we intend to ballot members and hold mass meetings to see if they want to take industrial action.”
The union is seeking a settlement where binmen would work seven days over a 14-day period.
Mr Whyte said evening working would not only have an impact on workers’ family lives but would also affect the community.
”The Monday-to-Friday day shift service meant the workforce could have a quality of life and could see family and friends in the evenings and weekends, and meant they could do their work during daylight hours.
”For communities, working day shifts means the bulk of the runs are carried out at a time when people are working and kids are at school and not playing in the streets.”
Councillor Pat Callaghan, executive member for transport and environmental services, welcomed the new arrangements.
He said: ”I am delighted at the outcome and want to thank the 75% of the workforce who have signed up to the new arrangements.
”I am, however, saddened that Unite the union continue to reject the proposal and intend to conduct a ballot for industrial action.
”The council will await the outcome of the ballot for industrial action from Unite.
”Throughout all these negotiations from April 2011, it has been, and remains, our main priority to protect jobs and services and this package achieves the significant savings required while giving employees an increase in salary.
”These new shift arrangements help to ensure that frontline services are protected and are designed to meet the needs of Fife’s residents in a modern, effective way. It will also deliver a £800,000 efficiency saving to the council.
”Management are currently considering contingency plans should they be required.
”A comprehensive media campaign is now being rolled out in the coming weeks to inform all Fife’s residents of the changes to the collection service.”