The rubbish may be piling up in the streets of Tower Hamlets but this is not the Winter of Discontent. Back in 1978-79, the refuse collectors had the good grace to go on strike when the weather had turned cold, sparing residents of the smell currently pervading the East End.
Waste service workers and street cleaners in Tower Hamlets began a two-week walkout over pay on September 18. Unite the Union said more than 200 workers have rejected a national flat rate pay rise of £1,925, because it represented a real-terms pay cut.
