Birmingham's long-running bin strike is set to intensify as agency workers prepare to join the industrial action for the first time, attending a major rally alongside their directly-employed counterparts.
Strike Action Expands
Workers employed by agency Job & Talent on Birmingham's refuse contract will join striking bin workers directly employed by Birmingham City Council on picket lines on Monday, December 1. The protest is scheduled to take place outside the Smithfield Depot on Pershore/Sherlock Street in Birmingham from 8.30am.
Unite the union confirmed that the number of agency workers joining the strike action is growing daily. The Job & Talent workers voted in favour of strike action two weeks ago amid allegations of bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting at the council's refuse department.
Long-Running Dispute Deepens
The directly-employed bin workers have been striking since January over alleged fire and rehire pay cuts of up to £8,000 per year, representing between a quarter and a fifth of their total earnings. Affected workers reported the cuts would result in them losing their homes or being unable to feed their families.
Strikes could continue beyond next May's local elections, according to Unite, after directly-employed bin workers voted in favour of extending their industrial action mandate earlier this month.
Council Response and Contingency Plans
A council spokeswoman expressed disappointment that the dispute remains unresolved, stating: "While we are disappointed the dispute has not been resolved as Unite has rejected all our offers, we are continuing to make regular waste collections and our contingency plan is working."
The council reported collecting an average of approximately 1,330 tonnes of kerbside waste every day, more than before industrial action began. Over the last six months, they have collected over 100,000 tonnes of kerbside waste, with a 22% increase in tonnage collected per employee and a 52% improvement in missed collections.
Regarding the blacklisting allegations, the council stated: "The council does not condone any actions which are contrary to legislation and good employment practice. Blacklisting will not be tolerated. A full investigation was immediately initiated. This has now concluded and has found that no blacklisting has taken place."
The council strongly refuted Unite's bullying claims, describing them as unfounded, and emphasised that agency workers have been crucial to delivering consistent waste service during the strike.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham countered: "Birmingham Council will only resolve this dispute when it stops the appalling treatment of its workforce. Instead of wasting millions more of council taxpayers' money fighting a dispute it could settle justly for a fraction of the cost, the council needs to return to talks with Unite and put forward a fair deal for all bin workers. Strikes will not end until it does."
There have been no formal negotiations over ending the dispute since May, though Unite said it remains fully open to returning to negotiations to resolve the conflict.
