Striking bin drivers spark more rubbish

PILES OF BAGS GROW AGAIN AS MORE WORKERS JOIN ACTION

- JANE HAYNES Politics Reporter

MORE Birmingham City Council bin truck drivers have joined the strike still blighting the city, leaving the council scrambling to get wagons out to collect rubbish.

Reports are emerging of delayed collections and a return of rubbish hotspots around Birmingham after angry drivers were told last week they were in line for potential pay and grading cuts as part of a council-wide review.

As a result drivers from three depots walked out to join their colleagues on the frontline.

The council said yesterday it had a contingency plan and hoped to have collections back on track by the end of this week.

The defiant workers said last week they were desperate to get back to work but could stay on strike 'all summer' if a deal was not struck that protected their pay.

The warning of a summer of discontent was repeated by Unite union leader Sharon Graham.