Families start clear-up to end bin strike misery
FAMILIES have started clearing piles of rubbish from the streets of Britain’s second city after a strike by binmen left them infested with maggots and rats.
Dozens of furious homeowners in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham have not had their refuse collected for more than a month.
The strike began on June 30 after Birmingham City Council announced restructuring plans, which the union Unite claims will threaten the jobs of 120 binmen.
Stacks of bin bags were piled more than 8ft high in some areas.
Mother-of-two Teresa Vincent, 42, said: “The street outside my house has been absolutely filthy.
“My children are only seven and nine and this has coincided with the start of the summer holidays. I’ve been scared to let them out of the house because the streets are full of maggots and God knows what else. To make it worse, in many areas there’s an horrific stench.” Former engineer Douglas Turner, 78, said: “I’ve never known anything like it.
“It’s a disgrace. The area has become plagued by rats and once they get used to a place they don’t go away. It’s unacceptable to live like this. The council and the binmen need to get their act together quickly to address it.
“They have a duty to the people that they serve and it’s horrific that people are having to sort out their own mess.”
Car salesman Naveed Sadiq, founder of the Muslim volunteer organisation Bearded Broz, is leading a 20-strong team of volunteers clearing rubbish in the Yardley and Small Heath areas.
Mr Sadiq, 42, said: “It’s a perilous situation. So far we’ve had to pick up bags that are full of maggots and have encountered several rats.
“The streets do look a bit like a scene from Slumdog Millionaire right now.”
Talks between Unite and the council broke down this week and the walkout is set to continue until next month.
A union spokeswoman said: “We regret that the people of Birmingham are suffering from the lack of collections but would ask them to step into the shoes of our members who have taken strike action as a last resort and at financial loss to themselves in order to protect their already low wages.”
Last night a Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Positive discussions are continuing to take place with the unions and we hope to be able to resolve this sooner rather than later.”
Jacqui Kennedy, who oversees refuse collection for the council, said: “Over the last week we have made good progress in tackling the backlog.”