On 27 June refuse workers in Salford mounted a 24-hour strike action in protest at the council's exploitation of agency staff.

Agency workers are paid less than their full-time colleagues and have no guarantee of work. Salford Council claims that it needs casual labour to fill in when full time staff are absent, although clearly this excuses neither their two-tier pay structure nor the fact that many workers are long-term casual staff who are relied upon by the council as an alternative to hiring enough permanent workers.

Over 140 full time dustmen, recycling teams and road sweepers voted for the stoppage, with the Unite union demanding equal treatment for agency workers, a ban on overtime and a work to rule.