Bin man is suspended for talking about pay

In a letter published last week, Paul French labelled the offer on the table an "insult" to staff.

He was also one of the most active users of the Evening News website, where he was openly critical of council officials and regularly questioned their honesty under the online alias 'paul the binman'.

Three days after his letter was published, including his full name and address, he received written confirmation from the council that a formal disciplinary investigation had been launched and he was not to return to work.

In the letter, the council's head of service Andrea McHugh said that there had been allegations that he "criticised elected representatives of the council and senior officers in a manner which is offensive and likely to cause harm to the council's reputation".

The letter also said that comments on the Evening News website "appear to have" been made by him.

It comes as council officials and politicians prepare to meet union leaders today to discuss the pay issue. The Evening News revealed yesterday how the Unite union has given the city council seven days notice of industrial action, short of a strike, after its members rejected a pay deal.

Mr French, 49, of Saughton Mains Street, said: "This is an attack on freedom of speech. They are taking action against me but they are not taking action against council workers who are using the internet during work time putting out positive blogs about them.

"They have clearly decided to censor any members of staff for speaking out against them. It just smacks of big brother."

His letter, published on 4 August, had labelled the offer made by the council as an "insult" to staff and said that the council's "cost cutting" would "pave the way for redundancies and service cuts".

His online comments went further, questioning the honesty of the officials.

Mr French, who is currently signed off work ill because of a back injury, has now been told not to visit or return to his workplace during the disciplinary investigation. He said: "Council staff use the blogs to put forward the council view. Jim Inch, head of corporate services, has had a letter printed. You've had members of the council in the Mouthpiece section, and other members of staff as well. What they're saying is if you work for them you can't express an opinion if it's contrary to theirs."

He is now contacting a lawyer through the trade union, claiming his suspension is "an infringement of civil liberty".

However, he has urged the union and individual staff not to stage wildcat strikes on his behalf as he believes the council wants to instantly sack them.

"We feel that is what this was geared towards," he said. "If there is an illegal action, they can sack everyone that takes part."

A council spokeswoman said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on individual cases.

Meanwhile, city leader Jenny Dawe insisted that a settlement could still be reached.

She said: "We are committed to reaching a settlement on this dispute. A meeting between council officials and all the trade unions will consider proposals that will affect most council employees.

"It is important to acknowledge that waste service staff are not the only employees affected by the modernising and equal pay proposals.

"This is a very complex situation and requires careful and patient consideration by all involved. It is important that everyone remembers that there is the three-year pay protection period, which gives time to work out much of the detail."

POSTINGS THAT SPARKED THE ROW

SOME of the comments by 'paul the binman' on the Evening News website

Inquiry as contractors' bin clear-up route is sabotaged

02/08, 4.52pm

"I'm just some one who refuses to take this council's word on anything. Losing a third of my wage doesn't make me feel good."

Bin strike called off, says council

06/08, 4.34pm:

"You must work for management to keep coming out with all the half truths, most of our men do not work overtime."

(Union says peace deal in Capital bins dispute is 'premature')

06/08, 4.34pm:

"This 'new deal' is no such thing. It has nothing to do with the unfairness of the fudged single status debate. The council know they are in the wrong, why else would they move the goal post three days after sending out the single status agreement? Why did it take them four weeks to confirm a letter sent to each and every member of the work force from Mr Turley and Mr Barr?"

(City bin men set to reject new pay deal)

07/08, 11.19am:

"This is an attempt to fudge the issue, it comes straight from the back of a fag packet drawn up by Mr Turley and Mr Barr at Xmas to try and claw back some credibility over the Pinnacle debacle."