Pay threat over Birmingham binmen 'go slow'

Dozens of vehicles were out trying to clear the backlog, the council said

A council has threatened to cut the pay of Birmingham bin collectors who it can prove have taken part in a "go slow".

The city council claimed residents have said regular crews have driven on roads "without collecting a single bag", as a pay dispute continues.

It was hoping the only waste left on streets on Sunday night would be that awaiting collection on Monday as per the usual round after a recent backlog.

A GMB union spokesman said accusations were totally ridiculous and unfounded.

He said it wanted a quick end to the dispute.

'Significantly lower'

Refuse has piled up as a result of industrial action, severe weather and the Christmas break.

Council binmen began working to rule on 22 December as part of a long-running pay dispute.

Two half days of strike action for this Thursday and Friday were announced last week.

Casual crews have been out every day since 27 December, the council said.

Councillor Timothy Huxtable claimed "guerrilla tactics" were being used

Asked what it could do about claims some regular crews have been taking part in "go-slow" action, the cabinet member for transportation and regeneration said the authority would take appropriate disciplinary procedures.

Councillor Timothy Huxtable added: "Regular crews are trying to jeopardise the efforts of our casual crews, by piling up sacks for collection and then leaving them...

"Also the weight of the rubbish collected by many of the crews is significantly lower than usual due to the go-slow...

"They [regular crews] are using guerrilla tactics and deliberately leaving rubbish in certain areas that they know will create the most inconvenience for the public."

Mr Huxtable said nearly 67 vehicles were out trying to clear the backlog and admitted some people had not had the two post-Christmas collections.

About 480 council staff are involved in the dispute over pay which has arisen from the legal duty of councils across the country to ensure equality in men's and women's pay rates.

The GMB union has said the pay review meant staff such as refuse workers, garage staff and road sweepers would lose about £4,000 a year.

The council has said it was "up to" that figure.

Gerard Coyne, a Unite regional secretary, has said any changes to the way members are paid is breach of contract and has said the union believed the council was bullying workers.