Leader comment: Bin dispute

CITY residents who don't have a personal involvement in the bin dispute that started nearly 15 months ago could be forgiven for thinking it was already over.

The streets haven't been knee-deep in rubbish, Winter of Discontent-style, and refuse collections from homes have been no worse, nor better, than before.

But the dispute has been rumbling on all this time - and it appears to be heading into an end game which could get messy.

Last month the 153 workers still affected by their work to rule resoundingly rejected a deal to end the dispute. A last-gasp bid to strike a compromise through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service also failed.

Now, as we reveal today, the city council has had enough and is moving to impose new conditions, including five-day working, rather than the current, enviable "four days on, four days off" system.

They will also set tougher new targets for refuse workers to meet, and will change collection routes to include more waste.

After so many months of resisting just this sort of change, no-one thinks the bin men are suddenly going to cave - and that means an escalation of industrial action looks inevitable.

The News has tried to give the bin men a forum to explain their position, and we've reported their views in paper and online. We will continue to do so.

After all, no-one would willingly give up a chunk of their wages (estimates range from 6000 to 200 a year) or take on more work without a grumble.

But at a time when the council is looking at axing at least 800 workers and libraries, education and other services to meet a 90 million shortfall, these 153 workers cannot expect much sympathy.

They are not the only ones suffering just now, and they must take their share of the pain.

Get it sorted

The News launched Get It Sorted to shame those responsible for our city into keeping it safe and attractive for its citizens.

With our readers' help, we've forced councils, utility companies and private firms to fix faults and clear up messes.

We don't give up - which is why a cracked path which posed a trip hazard in Almond Green was highlighted for a record 206 days.

The council and a private landlord have finally agreed to work together to fix it. So we'll move on to another problem - but we'll be checking they Get It Sorted.