Fresh disruption has hit Birmingham's waste collection services as striking workers have blockaded a key depot, leading to significant delays and warnings of missed collections for residents and businesses.
Depot Blockade Halts Lorries
Industrial action by members of Unite the Union at the Atlas depot in Tyseley on Friday, December 5, has severely impacted operations. Striking workers engaged in slow-walking protests in front of bin lorries on Redfern Road, creating a queue of vehicles unable to leave the site.
Birmingham City Council was forced to issue a public apology via social media platform X. The council stated: “There are delays this morning with our waste wagons leaving the Atlas depot in Tyseley due to industrial action by Unite the Union.” Residents were advised to leave their bins at the edge of their properties for collection as soon as possible.
The Heart of a Bitter Dispute
This latest action is part of a long-running and acrimonious dispute that began in January. Council bin workers have been taking action against what Unite describes as ‘fire and rehire pay cuts of up to £8,000’. The workers have been on an all-out strike since March 11.
The strike has now widened. On Monday, December 1, agency workers supplied by the Job & Talent agency joined the industrial action. These workers are protesting over alleged ‘bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting’, following a vote three weeks ago.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham condemned the council's approach, stating: “Birmingham Council will only resolve this dispute when it stops the appalling treatment of its workforce.” She accused the council of wasting millions of council taxpayers’ money and urged a return to negotiations for a fair deal.
Widespread Impact and Council Response
The Atlas depot serves a vast central swathe of Birmingham, meaning the disruption affects numerous areas. Communities impacted stretch from Soho and the Jewellery Quarter in the west, across the city centre, Alum Rock, and Ward End, to Shard End and Sheldon in the east, and down to Moseley, Hall Green, and Acocks Green in the south.
The union claims there have been no formal negotiations since May and estimates the dispute will have cost the council £15 million by the end of the year.
In response to the escalating action, a council spokesperson emphasised contingency plans, stating: “The city council has contingency plans and will continue to look to maintain residents with a minimum of one collection a week. We aim to complete all collections by Sunday.” The council also reiterated its commitment to implementing long-overdue service improvements.
With the union vowing that strikes will continue until a just settlement is reached, and the council maintaining its stance, residents across central Birmingham face further uncertainty over their waste collections.
