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Council issues update on general waste collections amid industrial action

ABC Council has released a number of details around bin collections amid ongoing industrial action in the Armagh area.

Residents across the wider Armagh district have been impacted by an industrial strike which has been ongoing since mid-July.

Missed black bins from Wednesday July 17 and Wednesday July 31 are planned for collection on Sunday August 11.

A priority black bin collection service will operate on that day to over 2,000 households who have been severely impacted and did not have their bin emptied on those dates.

Residents are asked to leave their bins out from 7.30am.

For a detailed list of roads/areas click here: www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/industrialaction.

Household Recycling Centres are open and operating as normal.

A bin lorry will be available to empty black bins at Station Road, Armagh and Keady Recycling Centre on Saturday August 10 from 9am to 4pm, and on Sunday a bin lorry will be available at Station Road, Armagh from 10am to 4pm.

A spokesperson for ABC Council said: “The council wishes to thank householders for their patience as it works through the backlog of missed bin collections and apologises for the inconvenience caused.

“Since the industrial action began on July 17, waste collection crews have been able to lift bins on a third of normal routes each day. With the period of industrial action continuing until August 30, householders are asked to leave their bins out on their scheduled collection day as normal.

“The council deeply regrets the impact that the industrial action is having on householders across the Armagh area and wishes to reassure residents that we remain fully committed to collecting as many bins as possible over the coming weeks.”

The industrial action is a result of what Unite has branded a “hostile environment” that has been created for unions at the council.

In recent weeks a Unite shop steward, based at the depot has been dismissed, while five other Unite reps have faced investigations, or disciplinary hearings, or had their rights to represent workers restricted.

However, a spokesperson for ABC Council, commented: “We completely reject UNITE’s claim that management have created a hostile working environment and strongly refute claims that a union representative would be subject to any detriment as a result of or relating to trade union membership.”

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