A DEMONSTRATION for workers' rights has taken place at the Dunfermline Recycling Centre.

Off-shift Cireco employees and representatives from Unite the Union, Unison and the GMB were all in attendance as well as representatives from the Fife Trade Unions Council.

Fife Convener for Unite the Union, John Gillespie, previously told the Press that they were standing up for the rights of employees against Cireco Scotland who operate the recycling service as an arms-length company on behalf of Fife Council.

The organisation provides sustainable resource management solutions for the local authority and many local businesses, handling over 220,000 tonnes of material per year.

"Our members are of the opinion that they are taking profit before people – it is all about profit for them," said Mr Gillespie.

"They are taking profit before health and safety and trying to union bust (where members are not encouraged to be part of a union)."

The Unite representative said the protest had gone well – although talks afterwards had not.

"There were about 20 of us all in," he said. "I walked out of the talks as they were going round in circles.

"We are going to give them over the weekend and maybe into next week and then plan what we are going to do next."

Cireco Scotland's Chief Executive Officer, Robin Baird, said yesterday that they were aware that "unofficial" action was planned but said they had not had any formal notification from Trade Unions as to the purpose of the demonstration or areas of concern.

“We hold regular meetings with our trade union colleagues, including six weekly health and safety forum meetings and joint trade unions can raise and evidence any concerns with us at any time via a dedicated email box which are then addressed and responded to," he said.

“I can reassure that we take health and safety of our employees very seriously. Robust systems are in place to ensure boxes and skips are assessed at every uplift by the drivers collecting them.

"Drivers are aware all defects are to be reported which allows us to quarantine any defective container until inspected and any necessary repairs carried out. This is to ensure the safety of site users, staff and the suitability of the containers for their intended purpose.

“In 2022/23 we continued to spend significant sums on repairs, refurbishment and replacement of boxes and containers and this investment will continue in the coming years.

“We welcome the positive contributions made from our employees and their representatives in continuing to maintain a positive safety culture that allows for continuous improvement in all that we do, and the positive economic impact we have within Fife.”