Statement in Response to Kate Osborne MP Re. Waste Services - 16/05/24

South Tyneside Council is aware of comments on social media made by Kate Osborne MP for Jarrow.

It is important that the people of South Tyneside are aware that the MP's comments do not accurately reflect the current situation.

The Council has been working hand in hand with the workforce over recent weeks to deliver the agreed action plan in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was approved and signed by both the Council and GMB and has been making significant progress to that effect. We continue to push on with this.

Entirely separate to this, the Council has had no other option but to suspend two members of the waste services team. This comes after serious health and safety concerns were raised around vehicle safety. While HR matters are confidential, it would be unacceptable to ignore issues that could endanger both members of the public and our workforce.

Whilst we would not usually comment on such internal processes, we have been moved to provide a comment to give a balanced view to residents. HR processes will now be undertaken quickly, in line with Council procedures and in a manner that is fair to all parties.

Public protection is paramount and the consequences of things going wrong with a 26-tonne vehicle out in our communities does not bear thinking about.

With regards to any plans for further strike action, we have not sought to undermine industrial relations, nor have we undermined the terms of the MOU. The GMB recognised that there would be occasions when a more formal stance would need to be taken in disciplinary matters. This is one.

We simply will not bow to pressure to ignore such serious concerns with the threat of further industrial action.

We would hope that the workforce can separate these two matters and continue to work positively with us to deliver a waste collection service for the people of South Tyneside. Similarly, we will continue to seek to work constructively with our local MPs following correspondence today and have offered further briefings, as appropriate, in due course.