Birmingham City Council has been accused of bullying behaviour after it pinned a 'performance league table' ranking agency bin drivers to a staff room wall.
Public Shaming Allegations
The controversial table, displayed at the Smithfield bin depot off Sherlock Street, listed drivers by name in order of their recorded 'infringements'. These infringements were identified through tachograph readings, which monitor HGV driving time, speed, and distance.
Unite, the union representing striking bin workers, immediately condemned the move. They labelled the public ranking a "bullying tactic" designed to keep drivers "in line". The union further asserted that displaying this information constituted a "serious contravention of GDPR legislation" because it revealed personal data.
Council Response and Ongoing Dispute
Following the outcry, the council removed the table. A spokesperson acknowledged that names should not have been included but strongly denied all allegations of bullying.
The spokesperson stated: "The purpose of the communication was about ongoing service improvements but we acknowledge that names should not have been published and the notice has been removed." They confirmed that an internal review determined the incident did not meet the threshold for reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
This incident has highlighted the tense relationship between the council and its agency refuse workers. Unite pointed out that some drivers employed through the Job & Talent agency have been working on the council’s refuse service for over a decade without being offered a full-time contract.
Strike Action Looms
The dispute is set to escalate, with agency workers on the refuse contract scheduled to join full-time council staff on the picket line from December 1.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham was unequivocal in her criticism: "The public ranking of the drivers’ tachograph infringements is just another bullying tactic, along with blacklisting threats, to keep them in line. The way these workers are being treated is disgraceful."
In a formal letter to the council, Unite's national lead officer Onay Kasab wrote that the information should be confidential and not used for "publicly shaming employees."
Despite the controversy, the council has indicated it will continue sharing an overview of key performance indicators to drive improvement, stating this is "standard practice." They maintain that crew workloads are in line with industry standards and that crews are supported throughout their employment.
