Striking Birmingham bin workers will protest outside the council’s budget meeting on Tuesday.

When: From 10:00 hrs, Tuesday 4 March 2025

Where: Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB

The workers began strike action in January over the scrapping of the waste collection and recycling officer role, which has impacted 150 workers with pay cuts of up to £8,000.

Removing the role also effects the rest of the refuse collection workforce, most of who earn little more than the minimum wage, by leaving them without a fair path for pay progression even after years of service in a demanding, dirty and difficult job.  

The workers already voluntarily accepted cuts to pay and terms and conditions to assist the council after it declared bankruptcy – including giving up £1,000 in shift pay. They now believe that further attacks to jobs and wages will follow.

The attacks on the refuse workforce are being led by Birmingham’s commissioners, who were handed control of the council by the previous government.

Negotiations to end the dispute are being hampered due to the commissioners, who are overseeing massively damaging budget reductions across the city.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Birmingham’s zombie council is being controlled by unelected commissioners who are slashing services and attacking jobs. The city’s refuse workers are fighting back with Unite’s full support.

“The country had 14 years of disastrous austerity under the previous government – more of the same is just making things worse in Birmingham. This is the opposite of what Labour was elected to do. Ministers need to step in and tell the commissioners to leave.”

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.