Birmingham bin workers will undertake extensive strike action from early next year after the council refused to reverse or even delay the implementation of attacks on workers’ pay.

The dispute will involve over 350 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and is a result of the council’s decision to abolish the safety critical Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

The 150 affected workers face losing £8,000 a year and the cut could also reduce future pension payments. Many of the affected workers have decades of service at the council.

Talks broke down on Tuesday when the council unexpectedly refused to delay the implementation of the cut in the WRCO role and was not even prepared to wait for the competition of the council’s own job evaluation process on the loader role which is set be completed in February.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is not prepared to see its workers face a huge pay cut, nor will it allow the council to recklessly cut safety critical roles which risks the safety of workers and the general public.

“Unite is totally focussed on protecting the pay and safety of its members and will leave no stone unturned in resolving this dispute.”

From Thursday 2 January an overtime ban will be in place as well as a work to rule which will mean workers adhering to official start and finish times and returning to the work yard for their 15-minute break and 30 minute lunch period. This will cause considerable disruption. In addition, there will be 12 days of full strike action (see notes to editors) with the first strike on Monday 6 January.

The WRCOs bring essential 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. The dangerous nature of the work is further highlighted by a freedom of information request made by Unite to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which revealed there had been at least 21 workers and eight members of the public killed in accidents involving the collection of non hazardous waste in the last five years. The true figure will be even higher as this figure does not include road traffic accidents.

Since the council effectively declared itself bankrupt in September 2023, 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 night time allowances and working around problems caused by the council’s aging and breakdown prone fleet of bin lorries. Unite remains committed to working with the council to manage its challenges provided it treats its workers with decency.

Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou said: “Unite has bent over backwards to resolve this dispute but the council has negotiated in bad faith and is simply refusing to treat its workers with fairness and decency.

“The strikes, overtime ban and work to rule will cause huge disruption to refuse services throughout Birmingham but this dispute is entirely of the council’s own making. The solution to this dispute is in the council’s hands.”

ENDS
 
Notes to editors:
 
The dates of strike action are January 6,14, 22, 30. February 7, 10,18, 26, March 6, 14, 25, 2 April

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.
 
Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org