Workers also being balloted to extend strike action through spring and summer

Industrial action by more than 350 Birmingham refuse workers will escalate into an indefinite all out strike from Tuesday 11 March.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced that the workers are also being balloted to extend strike action through the spring and summer. The ballot is over the council’s use of temporary labour to undermine the industrial action.

The workers began strike action in January over the scrapping of waste collection and recycling officer role, which resulted in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers. The workforce is fearful that further attacks to jobs and wages will follow, including the blocking of a fair path for future pay progression.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The use of employment agencies to try and break the strike is disgraceful, especially by a Labour council. But let me be clear – our members will not back down from the brutal attacks launched on them and neither will Unite.

“Our members undertake a vital frontline role in keeping Birmingham clean, it is totally unacceptable that their pay has been slashed and they have been left fearful of further attacks on their jobs, pay and conditions. Unite is giving our members its steadfast support throughout this dispute.”

The workers are taking strike action on 26 and 27 February and 3, 4, 6 and 10 March and will begin indefinite strike action on 11 March.

Unite has warned Birmingham council and its employment agency Job&Talent that it is unlawful to provide labour to replace striking workers. The union is calling on Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, which is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to take action and stamp out illegality.

The new industrial action ballot closes on 10 March. The ballot would extend their industrial action mandate into the summer months.

Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou said: “The commissioners and the council talk a good game about service reform. But from the ground all Birmingham refuse workers see is slashed wages, an increasing reliance on expensive agencies, more and more broken-down lorries and a service that is getting worse and worse. This dispute will not end until our members are given cast iron guarantees about where the service is headed and how they will be treated within it.”

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.