Birmingham City Council has begun hiring new agency workers to clean the city's streets during an ongoing industrial dispute, the Unite union has alleged.
Union Alleges Strike-Breaking Recruitment
The union, which represents striking refuse collectors, claims the local authority is actively recruiting staff to "replace striking agency workers" who joined the picket line. This action escalated the dispute earlier this week.
Online job advertisements, reviewed by local media, show several roles being promoted. One notable vacancy is for a 'HGV Class 2 refuse driver' position with the recruitment firm Smarter Solutions. The advert states that successful applicants will work with outdoor clean-up teams to remove leaves, litter, and debris from public areas like streets and parks.
Background of the Industrial Action
The latest phase of the dispute began on Monday, December 1, when binmen employed through the Job & Talent agency joined the strike. Their grievances include alleged bullying and threats of blacklisting. As a direct result, no household waste collections were reported across Birmingham that day.
Unite has stated it does not accept the council's position that it is not unlawfully using temporary staff to cover for those on strike. The union asserts that new agency workers have already been brought in via Smart Solutions at the council's Smithfield depot.
Leadership Reactions and Ongoing Dispute
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, criticised the council's approach. "Instead of trying to break a strike, the council should stop disgracing itself and get back to talks to find a fair resolution for the bin workers," she said. "That is the only way strikes will end."
The core dispute with directly employed refuse staff began in January over proposed pay reductions, which union members say could reach £8,000 for some drivers and loaders.
In response, the council's bins chief, Councillor Majid Mahmood, expressed confusion over the continuing strike. He stated that most impacted workers had accepted new roles or resolutions, with only three compulsory redundancies issued. "I'm struggling to understand why they (Unite members) are still out on strike," he told reporters.
Both Birmingham City Council and Smarter Solutions have been contacted for further comment on the recruitment claims.
