Sponsored by
LEEDS BIN STRIKE: Rubbish protest as strikes continue
Security is being tightened at the home of the leader of Leeds City Council after bags of rubbish were dumped on his doorstep on the day striking binmen demonstrated on the steps of the Civic Hall.
It comes after Coun Richard Brett claimed he received a threatening phone call on Tuesday night apparently linked to the strike.
Angry Leeds residents who support the refuse workers' cause visited the home of Coun Brett and dumped 16 black bags filled with rubbish on his doorstep.
They arrived at the Liberal Democrat councillor's home in Scott Hall Road yesterday and left the bags, each bearing a poster stating "Solidarity with striking Leeds refuse workers" at his door.
Mary Read, one of the residents, said: "Refuse collectors are being told to lose 3 an hour off an already low wage. Three pounds an hour won't seem much to Coun Brett, but it is to those struggling to live already during these times of crisis."
Police were at his home investigating the threatening phone message when a car pulled up outside and someone unloaded the bags.
And yesterday hundreds of striking Leeds bin workers staged a rally outside the Civic Hall as councillors arrived for a meeting of the City Council.
The refuse collectors, who are fighting pay cuts they say could reduce their 18,000-a-year wages by up to a third, had a defiant message for council bosses – no surrender.
Brian Mulvey, Unison branch secretary, told the rally that Unison and GMB, the unions involved in the dispute, were united and would remain so.
He told the strikers: "We are being well supported by union members and the people of Leeds. We have public opinion on our side."
The council this week brought in private sector staff to try to clear the back-log of rubbish, and Mr Mulvey said: "The council is using scab labour to try to pretend they can run the service but they can't."
In addressing the rally, Coun Keith Wakefield, leader of the council's Labour group, said of the authority's ruling Liberal Democrat-Conservative administration: "They want changes and productivity improvements and new rounds.
"How can you ask people to make these changes and then offer them a wage reduction of up to 6,000?"
Coun Wakefield said the public could see it was not fair to cut the wages of low-paid staff who were doing a difficult job many people would not like to do.
Bin crews and street cleansing staff began their strike on September 7 over a proposed pay and grading structure that would mean wage reductions for the majority of refuse workers.
The council have drawn up the new structure to meet equal pay legislation, which says people doing work assessed as being of equal value are paid the same.
The workers have been offered pay protection for three years which still has 18 months to run.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds United: Warnock calls for a united front
- Leeds United: Ex-Whites boss Grayson appointed new Huddersfield Town manager
- Leeds United: Whites ideal for Neil Warnock INTERVIEW
- Leeds United: Warnock’s appointment ‘best possible decision’ - Derry INTERVIEW
- Web poll: Who would be your choice as Leeds United captain? VOTE HERE
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
