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Talks to resolve capital bin row Breakthrough made in bin dispute
(about 2 hours later)
Talks aimed at ending a dispute between refuse workers and Edinburgh City Council are being held. A breakthrough has been made that could soon bring an end to the Edinburgh bin dispute, BBC Scotland has learned.
The local authority is meeting with the Unite trade union as private contractors work to clear a rubbish backlog from the city. The Unite union is understood to be considering a deal with Edinburgh City Council following talks on Monday afternoon.
Bin men are taking part in a work-to-rule in protest at a proposed new pay system which could see their earnings cut from £18,000 to £12,000. Refuse workers in the city have been taking part in a work-to-rule in protest at proposed changes to pay, and were being balloted over strike action.
The talks come as the city prepares to kick off its festival season. They have claimed the changes could cut their earnings from £18,000 to £12,000.
The situation has led to collections of household waste running up to four weeks behind schedule. The council and union officials both said the talks had been productive, and that if the more detailed proposals discussed can be agreed on, the workers should be working as normal by the end of the week.
Edinburgh resident, Brian Farrell told BBC Scotland: "I see the rats very late at night and in the early morning as well, scurrying about plus you've got the seagulls. Some households in the city have not had their waste collected for more than four weeks.
"They're swooping in to enjoy the food that's been burst open by the rats and sometimes the foxes as well." Some residents have reported seeing rats, seagulls and foxes feeding from the plastic refuse bags that have been piled up beside many communal bins.
A team of about 20 private contract workers have begun clearing a backlog of waste from the city centre. The local authority brought in a private contractor last week to clear refuse from the city centre amid concern that Edinburgh's reputation could be affected in the run up to the International Festival.
Council staff are understood to be tackling waste piles in the wider city area.