PRESTON'S binmen are to be balloted after they held an unofficial strike in protest at the reinstatement of a supervisor who kept his job despite a drink-driving conviction.

More than 70 workers from the borough council's cleansing department downed tools on Tuesday - a move which was criticised by the council's chief executive Jim Carr.

Workers vowed to organise more strikes until their complaints about the council's handling of supervisor Brian Rainford's conviction are resolved.

The workers claim that normal council policy dictates that a gross misconduct charge will be brought against any member of staff caught drink-driving in a council vehicle, resulting in immediate dismissal.

Instead the angry workers claim that every effort was made to help Mr Rainford, now believed to be working in the council's parks department.

A spokesman for the binmen said: "They have bent over backwards for this man because he is a supervisor. If it was anyone else they would have been sacked.

"We're not picking on this guy but the issue is the letter we all had to sign, which said it was instant dismissal for drink driving.

"Had it been once of us, we wouldn't be in the council's employment now."

The GMB union is now planning a ballot to assess the strength of feeling within the council so it can decide an official course of action.

Jim Carr, the borough's town clerk said: "Unfortunately, this unofficial action has targeted the community of Preston.

"We want to reassure residents that cleansing services will continue with minimal disruption as a result of this action.

"The council is saddened that certain employees in the section have taken this action against the advice of the Unions' involved.

"The decision not to dismiss an employee following an incident relating to drink driving was taken after careful consideration and is accordance with the council's internal disciplinary procedures."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.