Fears are growing for jobs at Bristol Waste after the company confirmed it was reviewing working patterns and outsourcing some employees. Cleaning and security staff – who controversially transferred from the city council almost two years ago with assurances from mayor Marvin Rees about job security despite protests from opposition councillors and unions – are among those affected and could see their shifts changed.
Meanwhile, the cash in transit team, which goes around collecting money from places like parking machines, will be outsourced to another company. A union is urging the mayor to bring employees back in-house, branding the transfer of 196 cleaners and security workers in June 2021 a “disaster”.
Bristol Waste says the changes are necessary because the tough economic climate and factors such as high inflation and people using cash a lot less than before the pandemic have made the current operations unsustainable and the company, owned by the council, needs to make savings. GMB union Avon & Wessex branch chairman Jeff Sutton said in a statement to Bristol City Council cabinet on Tuesday, March 7: “There has been nil or very little of the investment promised, any savings have been at the staff’s expense, customers and staff are despondent and far from making a profit they cost Bristol City Council money.
