'We've got to show the people they must fight for their rights'

STRIKING bin workers on £70 a day - or £350 a week - say they've 'just enough' money coming in to pay their bills as the dispute rumbles on.

- HARRY LEACH News Reporter

Unite, the union representing Birmingham's waste collectors, has been wiring £70 a day into the workers' bank accounts, Monday to Friday, since the all-out strike began on March 11.

The hardship payments from Unite, the union representing the workers, are funded by member subscriptions.

Unite would not comment on the exact specifics around the payments when questioned but the Post understand the payments are made on all strike days which will also have included the 12 days of strike action in January, February and early March.

The refuse workers - normally on salaries between £24,027 and £40,476 a year say they've had to really tighten their belts to get by.

When asked if he found it difficult to live off the £70 a day, striking binman David Callaghan told us: "Very much so. We've had to cut back on so much stuff.

"The mortgage is paid, I'm lucky for that, but the average person I work with have only just taken on mortgages [or] they've got child care."

The Grade 4 driver, who has been with the service for 35 years, added: "The one part of my life is okay (mortgage). But the council tax has gone up, the water rates have gone up, my car tax has gone up and yet wages are coming down?

"So yeah, we've had to tighten the purse strings. It's been really hard these last three months."