Dublin Bin Privatisation: Labour Party Privatisation Plan backed by Greens, SF, PDs, FF, & FG.

dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | news report

Thursday October 04, 2007 19:03

by DVBLINIA

Cllr. Eric Byrne motion for privatisation passes

Bin Services to be open to bidding by private operators.

Cllr. Eric Byrne of the Labour Party proposed the motion at Dublin City Council that management plans for outsourcing of the bin service should be allowed. The motion was passed with the support of all the political parties represented on the Council: namely Sinn Féin, Greens, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the PDs and Labour.

The plan involves allowing private operators to make bids for certain routes. The Dublin City Council would then judge the various bids and award an operator that delivers the most 'competitive' price plan. This outsourcing is likely to lead to a 'race to the bottom' in wages and conditions for the bin workers as firms with lower pay and worse working conditions are more likely to succeed. Cllr. Eric Byrne defended his actions by arguing that this proposal is worth defending as "cherry-picking" of routes would be countered by the City Council's regulation of the contracts.

The move of the Dublin City Council follows Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's privatisation under a Labour-FG coalition. In DLR the Council have handed over names and addresses of residents to Panda waste to facilitate them getting business off the Council.