1.
GV PILE OF GARBAGE IN STREETS
0.05

2.
SV DITTO PAN TO "LONDON BOROUGH OF HACKNEY" SIGN
0.10

3.
CU FLIES
0.11

4.
CU ROTTING VEGETABLES
0.14

5.
GV GARBAGE OUTSIDE SHOPS (2 SHOTS)
0.22

6.
GV PILE OF GARBAGE PAN TO SCHOOL OPPOSITE
0.28

7.
SV CHILDREN WALKING PAST GARBAGE
0.32

8.
SV MAN TRYING TO PUT OUT FIRE
0.35

9.
SV&CU FLAMES
0.41

10.
SV FIRE BRIGADE PAN TO FIREMAN HOSING
0.46

11.
SV FIREMEN HOSING (2 SHOTS)
0.54

12.
SV FIRE ENGINE, FIRE IN BACKGROUND
0.57



Initials TS/V/PW/MH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AS THE STRIKE OF DUSTMEN (GARBAGE COLLECTOR) IN LONDON'S POOR EAST END ENDS ITS FIRST WEEK, PILES OF UNCOLLECTED GARBAGE AND LITTER FROM NEARBY STREET MARKETS ARE PILING UP, PRESENTING - CLAIM LOCAL RESIDENTS - A HEALTH HAZARD, AND GIVING OFF A STENCH WHICH HAS DRIVEN CHILDREN AWAY FROM A LOCAL SCHOOL. THE DUSTMEN ARE STRIKING IN SUPPORT OF A PAY-CLAIM FOR A BASIC WAGE OF GBP20 STERLING (US$48) A WEEK.

RUBBISH HAS BEEN COLLECTING OVER THE PAST WEEK AND IN MANY PLACES IS AS HIGH AS 10 FEET (JUST OVER THREE METRES). NO DUSTMAN DARES TO MOVE THE RUBBISH -- AS ONE PUT IT; "IF WE MOVE THIS RUBBISH, OUR STRIKE IS BROKEN. WE'RE SORRY".

THE STRIKE STARTED IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HACKNEY, IN THE EAST END, AND DUSTMEN IN NEIGHBOURING ISLINGTON HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT. THE MEN CLAIM THAT WHILE THE AMOUNT OF RUBBISH HAS INCREASED YEARLY, THEIR WAGES HAVE NOT GONE UP COMPARABLY.

THE SMELL BECAME SO BAD IN HACKNEY, THAT ON FRIDAY CHILDREN AT A NEARBY PRIMARY SCHOOL HAD TO BE SENT HOME. OCCASIONALLY, A CARELESS DROPPED CIGARETTE HAS STARTED A SMALL FIRE WHICH HAS RAPIDLY TAKEN HOLD AND THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE HAS BEEN KEPT BUSY ANSWERING NUMEROUS CALLS.

HOWEVER, THE DUSTMEN HAVE AGREED TO CLEAR RUBBISH FROM HOSPITALS, OLD PEOPLE'S AND CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS...WITHOUT PAY.