Unfortunately, despite the efforts of Land & Environmental Services and the relevant trade unions to encourage employees to return to normal working, disruption is still being experienced in many areas of Glasgow. One of the worst affected areas at present is the South East, which covers Pollokshields, Shawlands, Strathbungo, Waverley Park, Crossmyloof and Pollokshaws.
Where possible, additional resources are being deployed to assist during week days and at weekends significant resources have been deployed in order to contain this disruption. It has become clear during the last few weeks that those involved in this unofficial work-to-rule have deliberately not been reporting missed collections in an effort to generate as many complaints as possible. Unacceptable performance such as this is being addressed with employees facing disciplinary proceedings.
Elected members received daily updates on the position but as a consequence of this misinformation, which resulted in the Service emailing David to say that the back log was only 4 or 8 hours when many of you had not had your bin emptied for three or five weeks, the daily update was withdrawn and it is now Land & Environmental Services intention to provide a weekly update of the situation, or sooner should there be any significant developments. This information will be validated by staff who have been redeployed from other parts of the Service in order to monitor completed collection runs. In addition, supervisors have been accompanying the poorest performing squads in order to address low productivity. David will of course publish any relevant updates to keep you in touch with developments.
You may have noticed in the media that the reasons given by some of the collection crews for the failure to complete their day’s work are centred on their unwillingness to continue breaching health and safety guidance. David can reassure you that employees have not and will never be encouraged to cut corners or to breach any such guidance. It is clear that this action is a direct response to the planned introduction of the new 4 on 4 off working pattern in February 2010 – and David supports this new working pattern as it will mean a 7 day cleansing service.
The use of contractors has thus far been restricted to the weekend catch-up operations, however, it will be increased this week with contractors becoming involved in assisting our bulk uplift operations in order to free up more of Land & Environmental Services’ resources for domestic refuse collection.
Many thousands of complaints have been received by the Council concerning missed collections. David has personally (rightly) received hundreds of complaints and if you don’t receive a direct response David can assure you that he passes on every single complaint he receives to the Service for urgent action. Land & Environmental Services are using all available information in order to direct services to the worst affected areas. This includes information supplied by David and he thanks you for your assistance in this matter by reporting missed collections. David is sure that you will appreciate that all available resources are being utilised in order to alleviate this situation as soon as possible particularly as Christmas approaches.
If you have any urgent or particular concerns you should report these to the Customer Care Centre on 0141 287 9700 or alternatively contact David direct.
