DELEGATES at the GFTU’s biennial conference sent solidarity to striking Birmingham bin workers yesterday.

Striking binmen Mike Masters and Luke Dalton (front and centre in white and blue shirts) told assembled trade unionists how Birmingham City Council is trying to cut some refuse workers’ pay by up to £8,000.

Mr Masters was applauded when he revealed he had been “a binman for 20 years and a Unite shop steward for 20 weeks.”

He described the harsh reality of protracted strike action and the pressures it imposes on families: “When people ask ‘Is it hard going on strike?’ I answer, ‘ask my wife’.”

Mr Dalton said as Birmingham is the biggest local authority in Europe, if the commissioners there are successful in defeating the workforce the attack will be rolled out across other councils.

“People tell me this is being compared to strikes from the past,” said Mr Masters. “I’d like to think this is the one that shapes the future, and finally stops workers having to pay for their employers’ mistakes.”