Good morning loyal newsletter readers. Depending on circumstances, I suppose, it was a welcome return to porridge on Monday. Like an anecdote to what was a final summer week spent in a caravan by the sea with the children. It was a lovely end to the summer ‘break’ to be fair. Now to figure out the school runs with high school entering the equation…
Speaking of a lovely summer’s end; what would also be lovely if it ended….the bins strike for the good folk of the Armagh and Cusher districts.
Here at Armagh I, we’ve endured our fair share of ‘do your jobs and tell us why they’re striking’ finger pointing. While we’re not privy to all the inner workings of this collapse of relations – especially as Council remain tight-lipped as they go through all their procedures – we are aware of the gist of the problem.
We understand (sources in an underground car park sort of understand) that there is an appetite to put this sorry mess in the rear view mirror. End the strike and for everyone to save face, so to speak.
There seems, or rather is, a growing public apathy as to the Union’s reasoning for striking; people just want their bins emptied.
And this time (remember the summer of ‘22?) it feels a little different too. This is not a strike for more pay and better conditions but merely a disciplinary issue surrounding one employee. Not to diminish that individual’s plight, but it has brought half a borough to its proverbial knees. We’re not sure though, if people are on their knees begging for bins to be emptied, or getting their pitchforks readied, but something has to give soon.
There is an appeals process ongoing, with Council expected to rule on that in due course. There is a feeling that it may come as soon as this week but again, that’s on council’s HR department. Re-instating the employee, or standing firm on their decision to dismiss may well have consequences either way but a decision should at least get the bin lorries back on the road.
Technically we are in for another fortnight (up to mid-September), with whispers of a potential extension if this issue doesn’t come to a head sooner, however, word on the grapevine – or underground car park in our case – is that our bins, in a perpetual state of bloat, will finally be relieved of their contents in the very near future.
Talks of a rebate are also pretty fruitless too. Back of the envelope calculations, given the allocation of our rates which goes on refuse collection (most goes to Stormont) would leave each household seeking anywhere between £8-12. The cost of processing that alone would probably negate anything for the ratepayer in the long run.
That said, it’s all a little sensitive on the legal side but we welcome your strongly worded opinions in the comments here.
