Workers Dumped On

In UNISON Scotland’s report  Dumped On – Working in Scotland’s Waste Management Services, we detail the experience and expectations of a workforce trying do their job in an a constantly changing environment. The report reveals a workforce under pressure facing increasing targets and declining budgets.

Waste management has become a more demanding task in recent years as demands for more and more complex recycling have been put on staff at the same time as budgets have been put under pressure.   Staff stress and morale will continue to get worse as targets for more waste to be recycled or reused are going up and council budgets are being squeezed down.

UNISON Scotland Head of Bargaining and Campaigns Dave Watson said:  “The job is treating rubbish, it shouldn’t mean getting rubbish treatment”.

Waste management staff are vital for both your health and the environment.  Every political party claims they want to increase recycling rates and is signed up to the idea of a Zero Waste Scotland.  They need to be prepared to put their money where the litter is.  The aim is that more waste is reused and recycled rather than put in landfill.   Well, if Councils and Government want less waste they are going to have to invest in more people to make that happen.

They can’t expect to get ever more demanding work from a reducing and overstretched workforce.