Bin strike being called off with only hours to spare following meeting in Laois

A planned bin strike has been called off just hours before it was due to take place. 

SIPTU representatives say they have agreed to call off a scheduled one-day strike at Bord na Móna Recycling following the securing of a significantly improved offer for workers at talks with the company in Portlaoise.

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The company reconvened talks this afternoon. At these negotiations a significantly improved offer for workers who will be impacted by any sale of the company was secured. This offer was discussed by the SIPTU Bord na Móna Recycling Shop Stewards who unanimously agreed to propose acceptance of the offer to their members.

The new offer will now be balloted on by SIPTU members employed in Bord na Móna Recycling. While we have made major progress concerning the industrial relations matters related to the proposed sale of the company many concerns remain about the proposal to privatise this state asset and the wider direction of domestic waste services in Ireland.” 

The threatened strike action was prompted by workers' fears over terms and conditions related to Bord na Móna Recycling’s proposed sale of the business to private business, Killarney Waste Disposal Company.  

Mr Kane said: “SIPTU will continue to lead calls for a more rational, cost effective and environmentally progressive reorganisation of domestic waste collection services. We have requested an urgent meeting with Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien, to discuss this issue which is of major concern to our members who are both employed in this industry and its customers.