Postal ballot move to end bin dispute

THE Unite union has sent out postal ballots to refuse collectors to vote on a new council deal which could bring their long running dispute to an end.

Refuse collectors are the only remaining group within the 600 staff involved in the work-to-rule who are continuing their action.

Unite's Edinburgh convener Steven MacGregor said: "We had a meeting of members in the refuse department last Friday and we decided to send out postal ballots to vote on whether to accept the latest deal, which was tabled on July 2.

"The ballot will run for around two weeks, and once all the votes have been returned we will decide on our next course of action."

In May, 270 street cleaners agreed to accept new proposals and return to work.

They were followed in the following weeks by gardeners, grave diggers and waste disposal staff.