Thousands of Sydneysiders can expect rubbish pick-up delays to end of week as union strikes

Sydneysiders may soon start to notice a stench in the streets, as at least 24,000 bins go uncollected for days.

Tens of thousands of bins could remain on the kerb of Sydney’s streets until the end of the week as waste workers undertake strike action.

Members of the Transport Workers Union employed by waste giant Cleanaway on contracts with the City of Sydney have taken industrial action to negotiate better pay and working conditions.

“We must remember these essential workers who keep all of our streets clean and safe have been working without a wage increase for nearly two years,” TWU NSW secretary Richard Olsen said.

“That is a disgrace.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said collections were likely to be delayed by at least 24 hours for the rest of the week as Cleanaway worked to clear the backlog resulting from the industrial action.

Waste workers are on strike. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

At least 24,000 bins will not be picked up for collection. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Waste workers are refusing to collect at least 24,000 waste bins in the City of Sydney council area on Tuesday.

“They will remain on the streets for quite some days to come,” Mr Olsen said.

The union is claiming that Cleanaway refused to partake in negotiation until it was taken to court.

“That is again an outrageous position that in 2022, a company needs to be taken to court just to commence negotiations,” Mr Olsen said.

The bins could stay on the street for days, prompting concerns for health. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

He said workers employed in the City of Sydney council area were at least $4 per hour behind most other Cleanaway waste workers in NSW.

“We are the lowest paid in Cleanaway that we are aware of,” he said.

“The City of Sydney council upon their deafness stand condemned for not getting involved, for not encouraging their contractor to sit with the union and find a compromised deal that will get everyone back to work,” Mr Olsen said.

He said the union was concerned for the healthy and safety of city residents if the bins remained uncollected for the rest of the week.

The union is calling on the council to intervene, as it is responsible for the contract with Cleanaway.

The workers claim they have not had a pay increase for more than two years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The union is calling on City of Sydney council to intervene. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

A Cleanaway spokesperson said a representative met with the TWU on Monday afternoon to propose a new deal.

Under the new offer, workers would receive a 5 per cent increase back paid to July 1, 2022, and further annual pay increases of 5 per cent, 4 per cent and 4 per cent over the next three years.

“We are currently communicating the offer with our employees and hope for a speedy resolution,” the spokesperson said.

“Any impacted residents are encouraged to leave their bins out, and if they are not collected, we will pick them up in the following days.”

The Cleanaway workers are among the company’s lowest paid, the union says. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

City of Sydney chief executive Monica Barone apologised to residents for the “inconvenience” caused by the industrial action.

“We ask residents to put their bins out as scheduled, as we are doing everything we can to address these missed collections over the coming days,” she said.

The City of Sydney has strongly urged the Cleanaway and TWU representatives to resolve the matter quickly.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore will meet soon with Cleanaway to discuss the city’s waste contract, ongoing service disruptions and what action can be taken to return the high level of service required.