Bin bags piling up on Sandwell streets

Bin bags were building up on the streets of Sandwell today as a dispute involving council workers escalated.

Some crews are being paid overtime to clear a backlog of rubbish because binmen are working to rule.

Today people reported rubbish building up after collections were missed in Claverdon Drive, Green Lane and Hamstead Road in Great Barr, as well as at homes in Anson Road, Thomas Guy Road, Vincent Crescent and Wolseley Road in West Bromwich.

Areas of Oldbury, Stone Cross and Hateley Heath have also gone without collections, as well as parts of Rowley Regis.

Binmen implemented the work to rule following a row over wages but the situation looks set to get worse. Unions have warned strikes could start within weeks, after an appeal against new council wage bands failed.

Brian Rickers of the Unite union said: "By Friday 3,500 homes had been affected, by today it is something like 5,000.

"This is just a taste of what's to come if our members vote in favour of industrial action."

He said that ballot papers would be out by tomorrow with a decision expected by June 24.

Workers say they have lost an average of £4,000 a year under wage bands implemented as part of Sandwell Council's single status agreement.

One resident, Mark Grant, aged 42, of Anson Road, West Bromwich, said: "It makes me angry, there is a recession on and cuts are being made everywhere. These workers just need to accept that."

Sandwell Council apologised to of the public and but could not confirm how many homes had been affected.

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods Councillor Derek Rowley said: "We apologise to householders whose bins have not been collected."