title: 2009 Leeds refuse workers' strike
text: # 2009 Leeds refuse workers' strike
  
  The 2009 Leeds refuse workers strike was an eleven-week industrial dispute in City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England between Leeds City Council and the city's binmen.
  
  ## Background
  
  The strike began on 7 September 2009 and was over the city council's plans to equalise the pay of men and women, which some workers argued would see considerable reductions in their wages.
  
  ## Council reactions
  
  On 27 October 2009, with the strike having lasted for eight weeks, the council began advertising for new refuse workers. The council said it was advertising for staff in order to meet its target of a fortnightly black bin collection.
  
  ## Resolution
  
  In November 2009 Leeds City Council put fresh proposals to union members which would see 20 staff getting a pay cut, but most workers receiving small increases. At a secret ballot of about 600 union members on Monday 23 November, 79% voted in favour of the proposals and refuse workers returned to work on the morning of Wednesday 25 November. The first bin collections took place the following day.
  
  