Unison pay strike, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson

Unison pay strike, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Unison Carmarthenshire County press release

Plaid Cymru-led Carmarthenshire County Council needs to instruct Cwm Environmental to implement a Trade Union Recognition Agreement (TURA) immediately.

The arms-length company was set up in the mid-90s by the council, and our Unison branch has been leading the way for several years to get a TURA, with GMB and Unite Carmarthenshire County local government branches supporting us.

You would think that it would be a formality to get a TURA given the council owns the waste disposal company 100%, and that they recognise the above trade unions for collective bargaining with the council, but no.

We have faced obfuscation, obstruction and delaying tactics every step of the way. When, eventually, we dragged them to the negotiating table the company, under instruction from council officers, tried to dictate who could negotiate on behalf of all three unions, and then offered a voluntary agreement where the unions would not be able to negotiate pay and terms and conditions for at least 18 months.

As a result of what was offered, the attempts at trying to cause division between the unions, and the above tactics, our branch and the other unions have withdrawn from ‘negotiations.’

The fact is our members in Cwm are on significantly lower pay and worse terms and conditions than council workers doing similar jobs. The company and the council want to keep it that way for as long as possible.

We demand that Carmarthenshire County Council instruct Cwm Environmental to implement a TURA immediately without any strings attached. We have therefore launched a campaign to achieve this and to get the council to abandon its hypocritical stance.

We are asking for messages of solidarity and support from the labour and trade union movement to be sent to the council to put pressure on Plaid-led Carmarthenshire County Council.

We also ask that your members sign the online petition at http://chng.it/h9BXRnFtc7 .