No smoking for street sweepers

Aberdeen’s refuse collection staff and street sweepers are being threatened with fines if they smoke within or outside their own depots.

Unions say staff have been told that anyone caught breaking new council rules on smoking will be issued by city wardens with a ÂŁ50 fixed penalty notice.

Unite regional officer Tommy Campbell described the move as “frankly ridiculous” adding, “It has been imposed on our members without any consultation with the trade unions.

“We don’t believe that the council has the power to threaten staff with fines and fixed penalty notices, and we have asked them to clarify how they propose to do that legally.

“The council’s management and HR department didn’t discuss this with the unions because clearly we would have rejected the idea of fines out of hand, as well as pointing out that city wardens can only issue fines for unlawful parking and littering.

“Staff have been told that they can still smoke in their designated breaks, but the council has said they will not provide ashtrays or shelters, and that there is to be no smoking anywhere in an enclosed space. Bizarrely, the council says that also includes outside yards.

“It means that if council staff at the Kittybrewster depot want to have a smoke on their break, they will have to walk around 300 yards until they’re on the main road, smoke their cigarette, and then walk 300 yards back.

“This is clearly another example of the ‘us and them’ culture within the city council – we are not aware of any council managers who have been told that they will be subject to fixed penalty fines.”

@davideyre