A COUNCIL leader is urging refuse collectors to think twice before taking industrial action.

Councillor David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, was reacting to the results of a ballot of Unison members supporting protest action over shift changes.

The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) anticipates a ballot of its members which is on-going will go the same way. Coun Walsh said: "We have a duty to the public. If a strike does occur, and we do hope it doesn't come to that, we will make contingency arrangements. We will announce these over the coming days.

"But our door remains open. We have made a number of concessions which we hoped would be recognised." Unison balloted 28 members and had 21 returns. There were two questions on each ballot paper. One stated: Are you prepared to taken action short of a strike? All 21 voted yes.

The second question asked if members were prepared to take industrial action, including strike action. Twenty said yes, with one against.

Unison officer John McDade said: "The percentage of those in favour of industrial action on the whole ballot represents a 71 per cent majority.''

He said a further meeting would follow today with the shop stewards "to put forward proposals to put to our members which will hopefully be on Wednesday".

Mr McDade said the form of industrial action which would be taken had not yet been determined but it could range from a token one-day stoppage to an all-out strike.

Redcar and Cleveland council has served its refuse collectors and street cleaners with dismissal notices, intending to re-engage them under the new contract conditions. Mr McDade said: "Strike action can be averted if the council withdraws the dismissal notices.''

Because of the size of its membership, 78 workers emptying bins and street cleaning, the T&G had their ballot organised from London.

While the results are not in, regional industrial officer Tim Bush expects members will vote the same way as their Unison colleagues. He said: "Members are very upset that the council has taken this approach and we hope the local authority will see reason.'