Strikes possible if council does not scrap plans to downgrade Waste Recycling and Collection Officer roles

Plans by Birmingham council to attack the pay of around 150 refuse workers by thousands of pounds a year have been slated by Unite, the UK’s leading union.

The council has written to Unite’s refuse service members to announce a consultation on restructuring its waste operations, including plans to remove the safety critical Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will not stand by and allow refuse workers’ pay, terms or conditions to be attacked by Birmingham council. They work incredibly hard and are bending over backwards to accommodate ever more unreasonable demands for a crisis they didn’t cause and should not have to pay for. Unite will defend our Birmingham refuse workers to the hilt." 

Most of the around 150 staff performing the WRCO role have been working for Birmingham waste collection services for more than 30 years and would lose an average of around £8,000 a year under the plans.

They bring significant safety expertise to an often dirty and dangerous job – as exemplified by the tragic death of Coventry binman David Carpenter, who was crushed in a lorry compactor in January 2023.

Since the council effectively declared itself bankrupt last September, refuse staff represented by Unite have worked with management in good faith to ensure services continue to operate despite detrimental impacts to their pay and working conditions.

This includes implementing route changes, accepting cuts to overtime and nighttime allowances and working around problems caused by the council’s aging and breakdown prone fleet of bin lorries.

Unite regional officer Lee Wiggetts-Clinton said: “Birmingham’s refuse workers are sick and tired of being scapegoats for a crisis that was caused by politicians. They have already made major sacrifices since the council’s financial crisis unfolded to keep services running, even as their jobs have been consistently attacked.

“Plans to remove the WRCO role are viewed as a thin end of a wedge which will contain even more attempts to go after refuse workers' pay, terms and conditions.”  

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065. 

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.