Birmingham bin strike sees residential streets turn to RUBBISH mountain
THIS was the dreadful scene as a bin strike led by left-wing union leaders turned residential streets into a rubbish mountain.
The Birmingham bin strike has turned residential streets into a rubbish mountain
The three-month dispute between Birmingham City Council and the Unite union over redundancy plans has seen bin bags piling up on the pavement, with locals reporting infestations of rats and maggots.
But the crisis, fuelled by Unite leader – and Jeremy Corbyn ally – Len McCluskey shows no sign of ending after members voted to extend the strike.
Julian Knight, Tory MP for nearby Solihull, said: “The fine city of Birmingham is being forced back to the 1970s.”
Community leader Javed Iqbal said: “It’s diabolical that the unions allow these strikes to be extended.
Giant rats run through mountains of Birmingham's rubbish
It’s diabolical that the unions allow these strikes to be extended
“They should be pushing for more talks and getting the problem resolved. We are the ones suffering.”
Community activist Desmond Jaddoo added: “We’ve got maggots, flies, massive rats. I saw one that I thought was a cat.
“You can’t help yourself from heaving at the smell. It’s a major health hazard.”
The row started after the council announced a services overhaul which will knock £5million off annual costs, but will shed 100 jobs.
On Sunday, 92.4 per cent of Unite union members voted for continued action
Unite began an initial strike of seven weeks in June, but the action was extended after peace talks broke down.
City council leader John Clancy resigned earlier this month over the feud.
On Sunday, 92.4 per cent of Unite members voted for continued action.
The union is also seeking an injunction to block the redundancy plans at a High Court hearing in London this week.
Mr Justice Fraser has been hearing from lawyers on both sides and is expected to give his verdict tomorrow morning.