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Blackburn with Darwen bin strike on: Friday and Monday
4:55pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
By David Watkinson »
BIN men in Blackburn and Darwen will begin another two-day strike on Friday as part of the continuing row over council wages.
Staff in the Transport and General Workers Union met yesterday and agreed on another round of industrial action, despite last minute pleas from council bosses to defer their action.
The strike was originally planned to take place Thursday and Friday but a delay in giving Blackburn with Darwen Council sufficient notice has meant it will now be Friday and Monday.
The latest action follows a two-day strike last week in protest at a new pay structure being introduced by the council.
The controversial pay review, aimed at ending inequalities, has resulted in hundreds of workers earning less than £15,000 facing salary cuts.
Thousands of wheelie bins went uncollected last week, prompting council bosses to use skips and recruit Blackburn-based Neale's Waste Management to collect some of the rubbish.
About 300 binmen, street cleaners and gardeners from the union, which is part of Unite, are to take part in the action.
Last week a 15,000 homes were affected by the action, around a fifth of the borough. More or less all areas of the borough are affected as collection routes are not restriction to specific areas.
T&G spokesman Roz Shepherd said the decision to resume the strike came after workers said a resolution had not been found.
High-level talks involving council chief executive Graham Burgess have been held in a bid to avert action.
These negotiations persuaded GMB members to postpone their proposed strike last week.
Ms Shepherd said: "I think this will cause a disruption to services, but that is the point we are trying to make.
"I don't want to see staff losing money.
"We said last week that the strike would take place over two weeks and that is what is happening."
But council chief executive Graham Burgess said: "It is really disappointing, especially as binmen aren't the people losing out in the wage review. The strike is totally unnecessary. I asked them to defer the strike for a week but they wouldn't."
Tony Watson, the council's cleansing and amenities manager, said: "We would remind all residents to put their bins out as usual on their collection day and we will endeavour to collect them.
"If the industrial action does go ahead, skips will again be placed in the community to ease any problems residents may have."
Your Say YourTelegraph
getting peeved, blackburn says...
6:52pm Wed 14 May 08
removals R me, my front room, says...
6:56pm Wed 14 May 08
getting peeved wrote:you can put it in my garden if you like
well you tell me its been two weeks now and the best bit is i just got a letter threatening prosexution if i dont move the rubbish from my garden - i dont drive and i somehow cant see a taxi taking it to the dump so im kinda stuck
uncle bin-laden, says...
6:59pm Wed 14 May 08
sham us all, says...
7:05pm Wed 14 May 08
paul, Blackburn says...
7:08pm Wed 14 May 08
Joe, Blackburn says...
7:18pm Wed 14 May 08
paul, Blackburn says...
7:24pm Wed 14 May 08
Joe wrote:Thats the problem these workers have, the labour government brought it in but being implemented by every other party and not one of them give a monkeys. The government was also trying to get people out of poverty but if it is true and people are losing 25% of 15 grand then it lokks like the very opposite is happening.
Has all you labour voters forgot this came from one of Browns Clowns
Punch (I live with Judy), Darwen says...
7:31pm Wed 14 May 08
Joe wrote:No it didn't and elsewhere there have only minor issues. The problems here have come as a result of Burgess and the cruel Tory Rigby led Coalition implementing "pay & reward" in the most hamfisted way by threatening people if they don't sign away their rights and trying to save money.
Has all you labour voters forgot this came from one of Browns Clowns
soap opera, coronation st says...
8:48pm Wed 14 May 08
michelle, darwen says...
9:28pm Wed 14 May 08
soap opera, coronation st says...
10:27pm Wed 14 May 08
michelle wrote:you realy thought someone from the council would ring you back,your living in a dream world,the people of blackburn are the last thing on any bodies mind who works in the town hall.your lucky if you can get the same person twice.
i was one of the ones hit by the strike last week.i read on the bwdbc website telling us to put our bins out because the bins were going to be emptied by monday.they did come around on monday but emptied the whole estates bins and left my street.so i rang them on tuesday was told to leave my bin where it was and it would be emptied by the end of tuesday.that didnt happen.so i rang them again this morning,was told that he would look into it and get back to me.im still waiting for the phonecall.so i will be back on the phone in the morning to them.very annoying as my bins are both full.
fruitbat, Not Blackburn says...
11:04pm Wed 14 May 08
Can i just say that the Binmen in Accrington are first class - really friendly and helpful. Doesn't help you all much, but just thought I'd tell you!
get a grip, yr bin says...
11:27pm Wed 14 May 08
fruitbat wrote:my thoughts exactly. another long weekend. why dont they just do the bloody job they are paid for or take a hike and we can employ someone else to do it. they have been offered 15k to wheel a bin from pavement to the road and back!! i would offer the feckers 10k for such an easy job.
Ooh how lovely - a long weekend off for the Binmen. Hope the weather stays nice for you all. Can i just say that the Binmen in Accrington are first class - really friendly and helpful. Doesn't help you all much, but just thought I'd tell you!
Darrener, darwen says...
8:02am Thu 15 May 08
BLT, Blackburn says...
10:11am Thu 15 May 08
Still,I must echo 'darrener's' comment about the elderly and disabled,as some are going to find it difficult to remove their rubbish should they get a large accumulation...
michelle, darwen says...
12:39pm Thu 15 May 08
soap opera wrote:they rang me back this morning and told me that the workers had said that all the bins that were out on the street on monday were emptied.mine was out on saturday night and so was my neighbours.i told them that the whole street hasnt had them emptied,maybe if that was the case miss a few bins but not a full street.shes getting back onto them and getting back to me.
michelle wrote: i was one of the ones hit by the strike last week.i read on the bwdbc website telling us to put our bins out because the bins were going to be emptied by monday.they did come around on monday but emptied the whole estates bins and left my street.so i rang them on tuesday was told to leave my bin where it was and it would be emptied by the end of tuesday.that didnt happen.so i rang them again this morning,was told that he would look into it and get back to me.im still waiting for the phonecall.so i will be back on the phone in the morning to them.very annoying as my bins are both full.you realy thought someone from the council would ring you back,your living in a dream world,the people of blackburn are the last thing on any bodies mind who works in the town hall.your lucky if you can get the same person twice.
bin - laden, great harwood says...
1:01pm Thu 15 May 08
bulldog, Blackburn says...
1:19pm Thu 15 May 08
kate, Darwen says...
1:36pm Thu 15 May 08
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
1:42pm Thu 15 May 08
Ex-darrener, USA says...
2:11pm Thu 15 May 08
Good luck to you, you should make millions!!
Not sure about this, Darwen says...
3:43pm Thu 15 May 08
getting peeved wrote:Hummmmmmm.
well you tell me its been two weeks now and the best bit is i just got a letter threatening prosexution if i dont move the rubbish from my garden - i dont drive and i somehow cant see a taxi taking it to the dump so im kinda stuck
Last week the strike was on Wednesday and Thursday. This week its Friday and Monday. Just wondering how come you are so badly effected?
NAFFED OFF NEW DARRENER, says...
3:43pm Thu 15 May 08
Spacehopper, says...
3:46pm Thu 15 May 08
Pob, Darwen says...
4:19pm Thu 15 May 08
bulldog wrote:I totally agree! These workers have families and mortgages to pay for. Maybe people will realise now how hard they do work instead of moaning all the time that they are lazy!
you selfish bunch of scroats, if you lost 25% of your salary you'd be striking. so what if your bin dont get emptied one week. thier lives are going to change and thier families. get a life the lot of you.
N.O.N.D., says...
4:42pm Thu 15 May 08
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZY GETS.
BIN & GONE!, lower darwen says...
5:11pm Thu 15 May 08
Spacehopper wrote:no if u read the telegraph wen we were on the front page, it stated we will empty ur bin FROM £3 and we charge £3 for a purple bin and £4 for a grey bin, NO we are not takin advantage of the situation!
Bin & Gone's prices seem to have gone up since I last heard about him... Not taking advantage are we?
bin & gone, lower darwen says...
5:14pm Thu 15 May 08
Ex-darrener wrote:yeah im the guy that went to moorland and yeah my sister is liona.
Bin and Gone. Are you John who went to Moorland and has a sister called Leona? Good luck to you, you should make millions!!
bulldog, Blackburn says...
5:40pm Thu 15 May 08
BIN & GONE! wrote:Good luck with your not taking advantage of the situation. I think what your doing is worthwhile. I support people who want to make a living, thats why I support the council workers, they thought they was making a living till greedy councillors want extra expenses.
Spacehopper wrote: Bin & Gone's prices seem to have gone up since I last heard about him... Not taking advantage are we?no if u read the telegraph wen we were on the front page, it stated we will empty ur bin FROM £3 and we charge £3 for a purple bin and £4 for a grey bin, NO we are not takin advantage of the situation!
BIN & GONE, lower darwen says...
8:18pm Thu 15 May 08
popeye, Blackburn says...
8:57pm Thu 15 May 08
NAFFED OFF NEW DARRENER wrote:Sounds a bit hippocritical, you can't be bothered bringing them back, tired are you? Why don't they wash your bin for you and all.
WHILST BINMEN ARE OFF WORK,WOULD THEY LEARN TO PUT BINS BACK WHERE THEY GOT THEM FROM,AND NOT LEAVE THEM IN A PILE HALF WAY TO BOLTON.LAZY GETS!
hahaha, here says...
9:49pm Thu 15 May 08
Darrener wrote:my advice is stick the oldies in a home and drive the disabled to the tip and dump them there
What arrangements have the council put in place for the elderley and disabled for emptying their refuse bins?
get a grip, yr bin says...
9:51pm Thu 15 May 08
bulldog wrote:so what if your bin dont get emptied one week
you selfish bunch of scroats, if you lost 25% of your salary you'd be striking. so what if your bin dont get emptied one week. thier lives are going to change and thier families. get a life the lot of you.
so if it isnt such a big deal then why the strike? what you trying to prove? empty the bins like are paid to, or get another job. i am sure there are plenty of takers
Bulldog, Blackburn says...
10:34pm Thu 15 May 08
get a grip wrote:They're striking because their livlyhoods are being taken away. they signed a contract and their employers want to rip it up. Our fore-fathers fought in world wars so we could have the right to a fair deal. They are not fighting for extra money or more benefits, they just want what they get now. Thats called standard of living and nobody should have the right to take that away. Anyway how can you compare a bin not being emptied to people losing thousands. If this happens to council employees whats to say private companys won't follow suit? If you work beware you could be next , because your contract might not be worth sh*t. So if they was to get another job , can they rely on the contract from the new firm, don't think so the door as just swung open.
bulldog wrote: you selfish bunch of scroats, if you lost 25% of your salary you'd be striking. so what if your bin dont get emptied one week. thier lives are going to change and thier families. get a life the lot of you.so what if your bin dont get emptied one week so if it isnt such a big deal then why the strike? what you trying to prove? empty the bins like are paid to, or get another job. i am sure there are plenty of takers
N.O.N.D., says...
8:23am Fri 16 May 08
NOT MY JOB IS IT.KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OR BLUTO WILL BE ROUND.GET IT!
michelle, darwen says...
1:24pm Fri 16 May 08
michelle wrote:at last!!!!!!!i eventually got my bins emptied 2 hours after my phone call the bin men turned up and emptied the whole streets bins.i told them if they had come on monday when they emptied everyone elses then they wouldnt of had to come back.
soap opera wrote:they rang me back this morning and told me that the workers had said that all the bins that were out on the street on monday were emptied.mine was out on saturday night and so was my neighbours.i told them that the whole street hasnt had them emptied,maybe if that was the case miss a few bins but not a full street.shes getting back onto them and getting back to me.michelle wrote: i was one of the ones hit by the strike last week.i read on the bwdbc website telling us to put our bins out because the bins were going to be emptied by monday.they did come around on monday but emptied the whole estates bins and left my street.so i rang them on tuesday was told to leave my bin where it was and it would be emptied by the end of tuesday.that didnt happen.so i rang them again this morning,was told that he would look into it and get back to me.im still waiting for the phonecall.so i will be back on the phone in the morning to them.very annoying as my bins are both full.you realy thought someone from the council would ring you back,your living in a dream world,the people of blackburn are the last thing on any bodies mind who works in the town hall.your lucky if you can get the same person twice.
me, The Burn says...
1:26pm Fri 16 May 08
this will just create fly tipping problems and also when they do start the collections again, will they empty my bin if the lid wont close or will i receive a fine like that poor bloke on tv not long ago????
Jack, Darwen says...
10:24pm Sat 17 May 08
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joe, says...
6:42pm Wed 14 May 08