Binmen on strike as pay row continues

Binmen in the Black Country today began the first of four walkouts over pay. Around 70 Sandwell Council workers set up a picket line outside their depot in Oldbury.

They gathered at the depot in Shidas Lane at 6am. Waving placards, they then marched to the council house in Freeth Street, Oldbury to continue their demonstration.

Workers notified the council of a five-week programme of walkouts and work to rule after the council rejected a second appeal over a controversial new pay scheme put forward by unions last Monday.

The dispute is over new wage bands introduced under a single status scheme that aims to iron out pay inequalities. Binmen say they stand to lose £2,900 a year.

Brian Rickers, of union Unite, said: "We are protesting because this council is just wrong, and the council has brought this pay dispute on themselves."

A previous work to rule protest in July cost Sandwell Council £500,000 in agency staff and extra vehicles.

Today at least five dust carts left the Shidas Lane depot while other temporary workers set off on rounds from Waterfall Lane in Cradley Heath.

Darren James, from GMB union added: "We have only had a few cross the picket line, you are looking at 85 to 90 per cent backing here."