AS BIN strikes roll on union bosses are calling on councillors to meet with their members.

The GMB enters the second day of its latest campaign of strikes and are calling on councillors from all parties to sit down with their members to discuss the issues.

The industrial action has been live since September 12 when bin lorry drivers began a continuous work to rule interspersed with stoppages.

The strike is part of ongoing dispute in which 38 lorry drivers want their professional qualifications recognised when pay grades are evaluated.

They want to be put on a higher pay grade than six street cleaning staff who now earn the same as them.

Today’s and Monday’s strikes are still set to go ahead despite “eleventh hour” talks to prevent them on Wednesday.

Mark Turner, secretary of the GMB, said: “We invite councillors to come, have a chat, speak to the drivers and to understand their issues.”

He added the union extended an invite to council leader Jason Kitcat over Twitter and were awaiting a response.

Councillor Graham Cox, Conservative, and Councillor Emma Daniels, Labour, have both already attended the picket line according to the union.

Mr Turner said talks have now ceased until next week but assured “we inch ever closer to a resolution” but said “trust issues” between members and management are still present.

Across the city residents are still struggling as the backlog of uncollected bins mounts.

Sharron Grimshaw and Sandra Washer, both from Portslade, said they have not had their bins collected for over three weeks.

Ms Grimshaw, 40, from Church Road, said: “There is loads of rubbish, buggies cannot even get past on the path and it just stinks outside. We pay our council tax, it is ridiculous. Everyone’s bins are overflowing. How long before we have rats?”

Ms Washer, 69, from St Michaels Road, said: “This is getting ridiculous and it is becoming a health hazard. There are rats and everything else and they are just tearing the bags to pieces.”

Richard Bradley, head of city infrastructure at the City Council, said:"We are disappointed to learn that the three strike days are to go ahead.

"We are committed to ongoing dialogue in accordance with the time table for service re-design, as are the GMB. We apologise to our residents who continue to face significant disruption to their collections as a result of this action.”