http://www.wetherbynews.co.uk/wetherby/Strikes-continue-as-council-advertises.5778412.jp
The leader of the Labour opposition in Leeds City Council has called for independent arbitration to resolve the dispute. However his call has been rejected by the Tory-Lib Dem council leadership. The Yorkshire Evening Post reports “new figures show that by the end of September, the council had spent a total of £900,000 on private contractors' fees and letters to householders because of the strike, while saving £800,000 in staffing costs.”
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-binmen-strike-Mediation-call.5776805.jp
Today’s Guardian editorial - placing the dispute in the context of the chronically under-funded measures to secure equal pay in local government - reports that new talks will take place next Monday.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/30/equal-pay-day-women-earnings-leeds-dispute
Donations to the UNISON Leeds hardship fund can be marked for the attention of Loraine Senior and sent to UNISON, Yorkshire and Humberside Region, Commerce House, Wade Lane, Leeds LS2 8NJ. Cheques should be made payable to UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside Region.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=5723