Workers cross bin strike picket

Council leader Richard Brett said many strike breakers were being abused

More than 100 refuse and street cleaning staff in Leeds have crossed a picket line to work as the bin strike enters its ninth week.

Leeds City Council's leader Richard Brett said many of the workers were being subjected to abuse from their colleagues who are on strike.

Waste collectors and street cleaning staff walked out on 7 September in a dispute over pay.

One worker who has crossed the picket line said he was being called a "scab".

The council said 44 out of 200 employees rostered to work in the refuse department on Tuesday had arrived for work.

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In street cleaning, 100 out of 170 employees rostered had also turned up for work.

The authority said staff who had chosen to return to work were a mixture of council employees and agency workers.

One man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he joined the strike when it began but was forced to go back after his agency told him they had no other work for him.

He told BBC News: "If I don't go to work I don't get any money.

"At the end of the day I've got to go to work and if it means crossing the picket line to go and earn money to support my family then I'll do it."

The joint leaders of the council held talks with union officials for the first time on Monday where the council leaders agreed to review productivity targets.