THE INTRODUCTION of a shared refuse collection service between the public and private sector in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown forms part of draft settlement terms to end a dispute that threatened bin collection services across Dublin.
The threat of industrial action followed moves by management at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council to outsource waste collection in the local authority area to the private operator Panda.
Informed sources said yesterday that as part of new proposals aimed at resolving the row “a direct labour element of waste collection in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown would be maintained”, while the private operator would have access to some parts of the market. Separately, the trade union Siptu said that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown management is to meet with it and other Dublin local authorities to recommit all parties to the overall waste management plan for the capital.
It said that this plan ensured that local authorities continued to play a leading role in the waste collection sector.
The meeting is to take place early next week.
Informed sources said yesterday that following such a meeting, a ballot on the settlement proposals, which were drawn up following talks at the Labour Relations Commission, could take place.
Siptu branch organiser Ramon O’Reilly yesterday welcomed the proposed meeting with local authority management and said that it provided an opportunity for “a recommitment of all the other parties to the waste management strategy. This will ensure that the local authorities continue to play a leading role in the sector.”
He again called on the Minister for the Environment John Gormley to introduce regulation into the household waste disposal market as a matter of urgency.