Branch Chair, Kate Ramsden said, "I am sure this will ring bells for members working in Aberdeenshire's waste management service.
"The report tells a story of increasing pressure of work at the same time as the value of wages is decreasing. Members are having to work overtime to make ends meet.
"Like other local government workers those in waste management have suffered years of either zero or below average pay rises. In the UNISON survey, staff at all grades, even managerial, report having to make efforts to economise."
"We are shopping around for food, fuel, clothes - to get the best deals, no holidays, having to keep cars longer."
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Kate added, "Needless to say, this decline in reward has not been matched with a reduction in expected effort. Quite the contrary, as new initiatives and declining staff numbers combine to make jobs more demanding than before.
"Vehicles are sent out with fewer staff - but the same route to cover as before. Others report the sharing of tasks amongst smaller numbers of start."
"All waste crews have been cut to the bone. Vehicles regularly break down, and go out with driver plus 1 loader rather than 2, but still expected to complete routes." |
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"Restructure has widened my role and lowered my grade. So, more work and less recognition." |
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Kate Ramsden |
"The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says between 2004/5 and 2011/12, it received reports of 97 workers and 19 members of the public being fatally injured – and 3,722 employees suffering major injuries - in waste and recycling activities, making it one of Britain’s most dangerous sectors.
"In a service undergoing rapid change as a consequence of both increased demand and tightening budgets was a lack of awareness of any risk assessments before changes and innovations have been introduced. Very few staff report even knowing about any risk assessment being undertaken before changes are introduced into their job - far less involvement.
"We would urge all non-unionised workers in waste management to join UNISON."
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