Tipless

The BBC has a story about bin-men complaining because they’re not getting tips this year, and in some places they’re getting abuse instead.

Now, I don’t actually believe in giving them grief – any policies that are in place about bin collection etc. aren’t really going to be rectified by having a go at the binmen, but instead by complaining (repeatedly) to the local authority – but I can give you one reason they’re not getting tips.

It’s because they do a lot less than they ever used to. Now it’s the householder’s responsibility to take the bins to the front of the house (top of the drive, whatever) in time for the bin-men to come, and then to take it back down the drive to its proper place afterwards. You’ve got to make sure that any extra rubbish is put in the “proper” bags (not that we ever have any extra rubbish, but other people do) or they won’t collect it, and will instead leave it sat by the (now empty) bin.

So all the bin-men actually do is load the wheelie-bins onto the back of the wagon, push a button, and then unload the bins again. And they want a fucking tip for that as well?

Perhaps if the bin-men did something extra – say, even for “just” the pensioners and infirm – to take the bins from their place up to the lorry, and then put them back – like they used to do- then they might get a bit more gratitude and respect. And maybe even some tips.