More than 300 council construction workers in Dundee began striking this week (April 4), and industrial action is set to continue for three weeks
The strike is in response to local issues raised relating to vehicle trackers and the Council’s Telematics Policy, the use of subcontractors for public works, issues with call-out payments and with management at the Council’s Construction Services.
The strike action is due to continue daily until Friday 28th April, with further strike action planned until 23rd June.
What services will be affected?
Services suspended during this period are:
- Non-emergency reactive repairs to housing and council buildings;
- Capital works;
- Lift servicing and maintenance;
- External cyclical maintenance;
- Disabled adaptations;
- Electrical communal supply;
- Various planned works across the Council’s multi-storey properties;
- Relet works;
- Electrical inspections.
Residents should continue to report their repairs via the Customer Service Team and using Dundee City Council’s online service, however, delays should be expected.
Emergency services will continue, including emergency repairs to housing and properties, and gas servicing.
What is Dundee City Council doing to resolve the industrial action?
According to Dundee City Council, the installation of vehicle trackers have been installed in its fleet for a number of years to safeguard staff, manage its fleet as efficiently as possible and ensure best value in terms of service delivery to the residents of Dundee.
Trade Unions have raised concerns about the use of subcontractors to support the delivery of services; however, Construction Services has said it will always work to ensure inhouse trades are fully resourced and only where there is a lack of resource or skillset will the service supplement inhouse resource using subcontractors, such as temporary resources to help deal with the backlog of repairs following the Covid-19 restrictions.
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of these interim service arrangements.
“We remain in dialogue with trade union representatives to reach a resolution on the issues raised, and continue to believe they can be resolved without the need for strike action.
“We are committed to investing in and modernising the Council’s Construction Services to provide the service the public expects.
“That includes dealing with the significant backlog of repairs that built up as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, which is why we have brought in subcontractors on a temporary basis to supplement our 320-strong workforce.
“There are no plans to outsource these roles.
“The service will always work to ensure in-house tradespeople are given the right skills, resources and management support to do the job.
“Our fleet vehicle tracking policy is implemented across all council services and has been in place for a number of years to safeguard staff, manage our fleet as efficiently as possible and ensure best value for service delivery to the residents of Dundee.”
