One of the key figures who helped broker an agreement designed to end Birmingham's protracted bin workers' dispute has urged the city's council to endorse the proposed settlement and turn the page on the entire episode.
Lord Brendan Barber stated that the conflict between the council and Unite could have reached a conclusion months earlier. He expressed disappointment that the arrangement has yet to receive council approval following last month's local election outcome.
This week saw claims and counterclaims between Birmingham City Council, union Unite, and the local Labour Party over whether a deal to end the strike was agreed in the run-up to local elections. Lord Barber has been cited as one of those who helped devise the apparent deal.
He said: "It really is time to move on from this unhappy saga. The fact is that this dispute could have been resolved many months ago but the declared strategy of the council's officials, supported by the commission, to frustrate engagement with Unite since the middle of last year has prevented that happening. It is time to turn the page and I really hope that all the parties in the newly constituted council will grasp this opportunity, make this deal, get the dispute resolved and deliver for the people of Birmingham."
Birmingham City Council confirmed it had not been involved in talks between Unite and Labour in the lead-up to the local elections. "Therefore, no 'deal' exists to 'hang in the balance' or 'pull the plug' on," a spokesperson for the authority said. The statement made in the run-up to the elections by the then-leader of the Labour group was made in a political capacity, and not as the leader of the council, they added.
"Since the commencement of industrial action, the council has worked diligently to find a route to a lawful, reasonable and industrially acceptable settlement of the waste dispute. We will continue to do so with the new leadership and administration of the council, when it is formed, and would urge Unite to engage with us also."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The continued attempts by unelected council officers and commissioners to block, delay and throw into doubt this deal is unacceptable and will simply not work. We look forward to the elected members of the council agreeing the process for the implementation of the deal, so the usual ballot of members can take place. Workers and residents have put up with enough of the constant dither and delay. This is a good deal for workers and residents and it needs to be swiftly finalised."
