The bin collection crisis in Birmingham is set to intensify over the crucial Christmas period after a dramatic escalation in industrial action that now involves agency staff previously brought in to maintain services.
Strike Action Widens
All 22 agency workers employed through recruitment firm Job and Talent on the council's refuse contract have voted to join the strike action in an unprecedented move. They are legally permitted to join picket lines from December 1st, potentially crippling the council's contingency plans during the festive season.
In a separate development, 275 permanent council staff have voted to extend their strike action until mid-May 2025, ensuring the dispute will continue through Christmas, New Year and beyond May's local elections.
Christmas Collections Under Threat
The involvement of agency workers represents a significant blow to council efforts to maintain basic services. Birmingham has already endured no doorstep recycling or green waste collections all year, with recycling rates plummeting as a result. The latest development appears to scupper any hopes of restoring recycling services before Christmas.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the situation as "a real escalation in the dispute," adding that agency staff had been treated "terribly" and faced allegations of bullying, harassment and being overworked to meet strict targets.
Council Response and Ongoing Dispute
Birmingham City Council maintains that its contingency plans are working despite the setbacks. A council spokesperson stated: "We are continuing to make regular waste collections and our contingency plan is working. We have been collecting an average of approximately 1,330 tonnes of kerbside waste every day."
The dispute originated in January when strikes began in response to council plans to delete the role of waste recycling collection officers, reducing bin lorry crews from four to three. The conflict escalated dramatically in March when strikes became "all out" and again this summer when bin lorry drivers learned their roles were being downgraded with pay cuts.
Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab placed responsibility firmly with the council, stating: "The council is solely responsible for the ongoing dispute." Meanwhile, the council has highlighted that the bin strike remains listed as a 'major incident', allowing them to call in extra resources if required.
Both sides say they remain open to resolving the dispute, though there have been no formal negotiations since summer when the council stated it had gone as far as it could without jeopardising equal pay rules.
