Binmen and street cleaners in Leeds have been on an indefiinte strike since September 7 after the council imposed a reduction in pay.

Why?

Because binmen earn more than women employed by Leeds City Council. So in order to ensure that men and women receive equal pay, the binmen are penalised to the tune of £6k per annum. Now, I don't have a problem with men and women earning the same pay provided they are both doing the same job. I don't know how many binladies Leeds City Council employ but I suspect the answer to that will be "none".

Binmen are not dinner ladies, nor are they office staff or council prodnoses. They collect our refuse and cart it off to the tip every week (or every other week in some parts of the country) and are a vital public service. For the chief exec, Paul Rogerson who earns in the region of £190k per annum and his deputy, Dave Page who earns £157 000, to impose a 30% decrease in salaries is just bizarre. If they were so intent in cost-saving how about they take a 30% pay cut - that would save Leeds City Council around £110k per year. Better still sack these useless desk jockeys and save over £300k.

In the meantime rubbish is piling up in the streets...and this is what you get when you try and implement barking mad ideas thought up by socialists like Harriet Hatemen.

so I'll say this to the people of Leeds:

IF CITY HALL WON'T COLLECT YOUR RUBBISH, TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO CITY HALL!!