Bin crews to hold strike ballot

Refuse collectors in Leeds are to be balloted on whether to strike following a row with the city council over pay.

The GMB, Unite and Unison held a meeting in the city on Thursday evening where members voted unanimously to hold a strike ballot.

The union said workers were facing "totally unacceptable" pay cuts of up to £6,000 - a third of their annual salary.

The move comes as the city council was considering privatising the service.

GMB organiser Desiree Risebury said: "These proposed pay cuts are designed to package up the Streetscene service - refuse street cleaning and waste management - to sell off to the lowest bidder and saddle Leeds council taxpayers with a third-rate service.

"Members' lives are being ruined by council bureaucrats many of whom are on astronomical salaries - from £50,000 to over £200,000 - and never have to risk their health and well-being by keeping our streets clean."

Tony Pearson, regional organiser for Unite, described the meeting as "heated and angry" and said the only obvious stand was for members to vote for a strike ballot.

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