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BIN ON HOLIDAY
Striking binmen in Birmingham abandon picket lines for Easter holidays as rats swarm from stinking rubbish bags
Bin crews have warned their strikes could continue for several months
STRIKING binmen have abandoned their picket lines for an Easter break.
There were no refuse workers protesting outside Birmingham’s three waste depots on Good Friday.
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The Unite union confirmed its members would not be picketing over the bank holiday weekend.
It came after talks to end the long-running strike broke down on Wednesday — with the union claiming council leaders were unwilling to resume negotiations until next week.
The council claimed it was ready to meet during the Easter weekend.
As festering bin bags piled up on the city’s streets, residents said they just wanted the dispute resolved.
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Aayan Khan, from Small Heath, said: “We’re angry because his area is so dirty now. They need to sort it out.”
Bin crews, who say a shake-up of job roles will leave them up to £8,000 a year worse off, have been striking since March 11.
They have warned their action will continue until September.
Rats have swarmed in to feed from stinking rubbish bags left lying in the spring sunshine.
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The council says collections are continuing over the Easter weekend.
It has been parking bin trucks at fixed locations so people can take their rubbish along.
Inside Birmingham's bin wars as strikes see streets overrun with RATS and piles of rotting food and rubbish are left to fester
It says more than 21,000 tons have been picked up this month.
But dozens of waste vehicles could be seen sitting idle in the main Atlas depot in Tyseley yesterday morning, while crews stopped for breakfast at a café.
Council leader John Cotton insisted: “We are open to good faith negotiations.”
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