Birmingham’s bin chaos could stretch into the summer after workers voted in favour of extending their strike mandate over the council’s use of temporary labour to undermine their industrial action.
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.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The disgraceful use of unlawful labour to try and break the strike has just resulted in industrial action escalating. The only way this dispute will end is by halting the brutal and unnecessary attacks on our members’ pay.”

Nearly 400 workers will tomorrow (Tuesday 11 March) begin an indefinite strike over the scrapping of the waste collection and recycling officer role (WRCO), which has impacted 150 workers with pay cuts of up to £8,000.

Removing the role affects the rest of the low paid workforce by leaving them without a fair path for pay progression. There is also increasing concern amongst the entire workforce that the council is preparing to downgrade the pay of other non-management roles in the service.

Most Birmingham refuse workers are paid between £24,027 and £25,992 – just slightly more than the £23,795 workers on the minimum wage earn annually.  

The workers already voluntarily accepted cuts to pay and terms and conditions to assist the council after it declared bankruptcy. This included giving up £1,000 in shift pay. 

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “The council could end this dispute tomorrow by agreeing to pay a decent rate of pay. The council is forcing dedicated workers onto pay levels barely above the minimum wage while undertaking a difficult and highly demanding job in all weathers. The council easily afford this if it stopped wasting millions on expensive employment agency fees.

“Disruption to Birmingham’s refuse service will further deteriorate but this is the fault of a heartless council which has slashed pay without a thought to the affect it is having on workers and their families.”

Earlier today, Unite revealed that Birmingham council was wasting millions of pounds on costly employment agencies in the refuse service prior to strike action, with the costs now expected to be even higher.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Unite is directing media to Birmingham’s Atlas depot (170-172 Kings Road, Tyseley, Birmingham, B11 2AS) between 0800 and 1000.

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.