REFUSE collectors joined parking wardens and toll collectors on the picket line today in the latest wave of industrial action against council cuts.

And as rubbish piles up across the city union leaders have today confirmed bin men will extend their five-day strike for another week.

Yesterday council bosses manned booths on the Itchen Bridge during peak times to collect tolls from drivers while collectors joined the protest.

That came on top of up to 2,400 union staff at the city council currently working to rule and about 50 street cleaners who are planning to strike on Monday, in the increasingly bitter dispute over plans to slash pay by up to 5.5 per cent.

STRIKE ACTION DETAILS:
• 50-60 Street Cleaners:
 Planning a walkout on Monday

• 40 Parking Wardens:
 On strike until June 14

• 112 Refuse Collectors:
 Started a week-long strike this morning and will extend that for another week

•30 Itchen Bridge Staff:
 On strike until June 14.

Today’s walkouts come after the unions and city council set a date yesterday to sit down with mediator ACAS for talks.

Both sides have now agreed to meet next Thursday to discuss a way to end the dispute.

But union bosses say that they won’t suspend the strikes unless the city council drops threats to dismiss staff if they do not sign new contracts by July 11. They also say that they are prepared to escalate action even further.

The Unite union’s convenor in the council, Mark Wood, said: “We have got plans to bring out further services areas and revisit some of the services areas that we have had out so far. I don’t believe we’re losing public support – I think they understand the reasons we’re doing it.

“If the council agree to suspend the dismissal date, I’m sure we’ll agree to suspend the industrial action.”

Southampton City Council has hit out at the continuing strike action.

Deputy leader Cllr Jeremy Moulton said: “Any union action that hits council income and incurs additional cost is only making this already very difficult situation worse.

“Less money means more pressure on jobs and services. By continuing this action unions are directly affecting the very people and services they should be trying to protect.”