JUST 41 bin workers are said to be behind the strike holding Britain’s second biggest city to ransom in a pay dispute.
The group rejected a deal to end the six-week walkout in Birmingham, council officials admitted yesterday.
PAJust 41 bin workers are said to be behind the strike holding Birmingham to ransom[/caption]
Unite chief Sharon Graham said strikes could spread
And union leaders warned the crippling strike could spread to Sheffield and Peterborough.
Rubbish has piled up in the streets, attracting an influx of rats.
But the city council expects to have collected 22,000 tons of rotting waste by the weekend.
Operations chief Craig Cooper said around 130 of 170 waste recycling collection officers have accepted redundancy or to re-train as drivers.
He added: “There are about 40 that haven’t, and I urge those 40 to look again.
“I urge Unite to come to the table as swiftly as possible and for us to resolve this.”
Shadow Cabinet minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Forty-one workers holding Britain’s second largest city to ransom shows how ideological and one-sided the unions are.”
Unite chief Sharon Graham said strikes could spread.
She told LBC Radio: “Well, if other councils decide to make low-paid workers pay for bad decisions, then absolutely.
“Of course, we all have to take action in those other areas.”
SWNSHuge piles of rubbish has accumulated in the streets[/caption]
SWNSThe city council expects to have collected 22,000 tons of rotting waste by the weekend[/caption]
PAThe rubbish piled up in the streets has attracted an influx of rats[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
