Dispute to close dumps

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 1

Dispute to close dumps

By

KAY FORRESTER

A stop-work meeting and rubbish backlog have effectively closed Christchurch metropolitan refuse stations to the public from about 2.30 p.m. today. Both relate to the continuing ban on overtime imposed by members of the Drivers’ and Labourers’ unions at the stations two weeks ago over their wage negotiations. The Metropolitan Refuse Committee has decided to close the stations to the public tomorrow and Sunday to clear the build-up of rubbish.

The committee’s chairman, Cr Ron Wright, said the northern station was coping well but the eastern and western stations were about two-thirds full. The committee wanted staff to work through the backlog tomorrow and Sunday, he said.

A stop-work meeting called by the workers for 3 p.m. this afternoon would effectively shut the stations down for the day, Cr Wright said. He said it was not clear what might happen during the weekend until after that meeting. The workers have said they might refuse from tomorrow to collect fees for dumping from the public. That would cause problems, said Cr Wright, because the “free” dumping would encourage more people to take rubbish to the already-bulging stations.

The possible non-collection of fees is the latest step in the workers’ campaign to get the committee to raise its wage offer of 7.5 per cent. They want 8.6 per cent plus an increase in the industry allowance and supervisors’ rates.