NOT CWU - Bin strike couple's wedding fears

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 358923.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Leeds couple who both work as refuse collectors and are taking part in the city's bin strike fear they may have to cancel their wedding.

Robbie Clare and Josie Martin plan to get married next May but say they may not be able to afford it if the strike continues past Christmas.

The couple, who met at work, are among hundreds of workers involved in the 10-week industrial action over pay.

Talks are being held with the city council to try to end the dispute.

Ms Martin said they had initially thought the strike would only last two to three weeks.

"It has been awful really. There are money worries with it being so close to Christmas and our wedding.

"If the strike continues we may have to think about cancelling it."

Mr Clare said: "My friends ask if it's going ahead and I just have to say that I hope it's going to happen.

"We don't want something like this to ruin the biggest day of our lives so we have just got to knuckle down and think everything is going to be ok.

"I just hope the lottery comes up or something."

The couple's average days consists of getting up about 0600 GMT, taking Ms Martin's youngest daughter to school, then joining striking workers on the picket line.

Mr Clare said: "It's very boring.

"Ten weeks now seems like a year to me. It's just dragging. I can't even do the garden because the waste bin is full."

Sticking together

Ms Martin said despite the impact the strike was having on their lives they were determined to see it through to the end.

"We have got to stick together and that's what all of us have done," she said.

Workers walked out in a row over pay on 7 September.

A new offer by the council was rejected last month after unions said some of the productivity targets which formed part of the deal were unachievable.

During talks on 2 November, the council's leaders agreed to review the targets.

The deal offered by the council would mean an annual pay cut of £231 for refuse collectors, instead of the £4,491 salary drop they originally faced.

[delboy]

Good luck to them, feel really sorry for the, just imagine no pay for 10 weeks, how would you cope..
Any ways hope they get what they need from striking and there wedding goes ahead..

[anTi]

It was my understanding that the vast majority of those striking bin man had now returned to work

As for 10 weeks without pay....they must have very generous relatives.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Bin strike ends as offer accepted http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 369143.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Refuse workers in Leeds have voted to end the city's bin strike after walking out in a pay dispute 11 weeks ago.

The decision comes after a series of talks between council officials and unions.

Hundreds of workers walked out on 7 September over claims by the unions that a new pay system would have led to a wage cut of up to £5,000.

The dispute has seen rubbish piling up in the streets, prompting concerns about rats and health hazards.

The strike centred on union claims the council planned to cut refuse collectors' salaries from February 2011 following the introduction of equal pay legislation.

'Good news'

In October, workers rejected a revised offer put forward by the authority but negotiations continued.

At a secret ballot of about 600 union members on Monday, 79% voted in favour of the council's latest offer.

The offer means 20 staff will get a pay cut but most will get small increases, provided they meet productivity targets.

Council leader Richard Brett said he was "delighted".


Our immediate priority is to get staff back to work and a full service restored as soon as possible
Council leader Richard Brett

Strike prompted by bitter row

He said: "This is good news for us, our workers and the people of Leeds.

"We have been able to work up slightly amended proposals which completely eradicate pay losses for many workers.

"We will also continue to work with other members of refuse staff who stand to lose money to see what can be done to close any pay gap.

"In the meantime, they will still benefit from pay protection until 2011."

Residents thanked

Mr Brett said the council would now "get on with modernising the service and begin to achieve the productivity improvements and efficiencies we require".

He added: "However, our immediate priority is to get staff back to work and a full service restored as soon as possible."

Neil Derrick, regional officer of the GMB union, said: "Our members have voted emphatically to return to work because they recognise the victory that their solidarity has delivered.

"Twelve weeks ago they faced savage pay cuts and privatisation but today they have agreed to return to work on Wednesday with both these threats removed.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to the people of Leeds who despite the inconvenience they suffered have recognised the just cause of the workers."