Waste collection services in Birmingham faced further disruption on Thursday morning after protesters blocked access to two key council depots.
Depots Blocked Amid Ongoing Dispute
The protests caused significant hold-ups for refuse trucks attempting to leave the Atlas and Perry Barr depots on Thursday, January 8. The demonstrators, described as an independent group showing solidarity with striking bin workers, are not affiliated with the Unite union, which clarified its position on the action.
In response to the delays, Birmingham City Council issued immediate instructions to residents via social media. The authority urged homeowners to leave their bins out as normal, assuring them that crews would reach them as soon as possible despite the setbacks.
Year-Long Strike With No End in Sight
This latest incident is part of a much larger, unresolved industrial dispute that has now stretched for over a year. Council-employed bin workers, represented by Unite, first walked out on January 6, 2025, in a row over pay and working conditions.
The strike's impact has widened, with agency workers employed by the Job & Talent agency joining the picket lines across the city. Unite claims the number of agency staff participating is 'growing daily' and has alleged that workers face 'bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting'.
Council's Contingency Plan and Service Claims
A council spokeswoman maintained that contingency plans are operational, ensuring a minimum of one collection per week for residents. She expressed disappointment that Unite had rejected all offers to resolve the dispute but defended the service's performance during the action.
The council stated it has been collecting an average of approximately 1,330 tonnes of kerbside waste daily, a figure it claims is higher than pre-strike levels. Over the last six months, it reports having collected over 100,000 tonnes of waste, with a 22 per cent increase in tonnage collected per employee and a 52 per cent improvement in missed collections.
The spokeswoman added that the council is continuing to implement long-overdue service improvements while managing the ongoing dispute with a small number of agency staff and their employer, Job & Talent.
