FURIOUS refuse collection staff have vowed to find new jobs after being told they must work longer hours due to council cost-cutting measures.

Refuse and recycling collection workers made a passionate plea to councillors ahead of a corporate board meeting of Richmondshire District Council after being told they would soon be working more than nine hours a day over a four day week.

But the bin wagon drivers and loaders said they already work long hours doing a physically demanding job and due to staffing cuts over the years it has only become tougher.

Councillors voted in favour of a recommendation to approve a new system of waste and recycling collection - which will allow residents to recycle more materials including cardboard, plastic and textiles.

Councillors were told the current waste contract with Yorwaste was coming to an end and efficiencies had to be made in collecting recyclables because its value has dropped.

Council director Colin Dales said: “It is not a recommendation we are making lightly and it does mean significant changes for the staff.

“We we need to look at the £1 million of savings we have to make.”

Cllr Stuart Parsons asked to have the decision deferred until other options were looked at – and said staff at neighbouring Ryedale authority who had the same shift pattern of nine and quarter hours over four days were unhappy and it was causing problems for residents.

He said: “The staff are not happy because they have been told no matter what they feel it will happen anyway.”

Following the meeting, a council worker speaking on behalf of the staff who did not wish to be named, said: “Over the last five years we have lost eight staff from our department and none have been permanently replaced.

“Rounds have gone from three loaders to two loaders and now more increasingly down to just one loader, but the same work is still to do.”

He added: “I’m not a union member and neither are most of the rest of the staff because during previous issues they weren’t able to help us so many felt disillusioned.

“But staff are now in three separate groups: those who are approaching retirement age who were happy to carry on but now plan to leave; those, including me, who are actively seeking work elsewhere to leave as soon as we can; and the few willing to stick it out to see how it goes.”