48

of 100 signatures

To South Tyneside Council

For several months now, South Tyneside Council refuse collectors have been striking on and off to protest accusations of bullying at South Tyneside Council. There's strong support for the binmen but the strikes are also causing much pain to residents. The strikes mean that additional rubbish (including food leftovers, and dirty nappies) are left in places such as back lanes, where wildlife is gaining access and causing a disgusting, smelly mess. This is also leading to rats as reported in some areas, and potentially could be fatal towards our pets and/or children if they're out and about in this.

Residents support our binmen - an elderly lady who suffered a heart attack couldn't manage to put her bin out, and these caring, kind binmen took her bin out, which added additional time to their route. This act of kindness meant other areas were delayed in being emptied, so the binmen were told off by their superiors, as all the bin wagons have cameras on them, so this was seen as evidence. I have heard reports of bullying, high workloads, and poor management from other workers at South Tyneside Council.

Something has to change, and if this means having a change of management at the Council to ensure that these strikes can stop, then so be it. I have spoken to some residents who have even talked about a petition to start a council tax strike. A further bin strike has been announced today for 6 months.

More information on this can be found in the Shields Gazette: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/south-tyneside-set-for-more-bin-strikes-and-it-could-last-another-six-months-4606764

ITV: https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2024-04-26/further-bin-strikes-announced-following-ongoing-dispute-with-council

Petition text

It's simple, residents pay our rates and expect our bins to be emptied. South Tyneside Council and union representatives clearly aren't able to come to a mutual understanding, which not only is having an impact on residents, but on our planet. The Council needs to make changes to its workplace culture so that the strikes can end.

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End the South Tyneside Bin Strikes

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