Unite to hold huge community event in home secretary’s Birmingham Ladywood constituency in support of striking bin workers

Unite, the UK’s leading union, will hold a huge community event in the Alum Rock area of Shabana Mahmood’s Ladywood constituency, in support of striking Birmingham bin workers. The local community is sick and tired of rubbish piling up in their streets despite claims by the council that rubbish is being collected.

The event will involve members of local mosques, community groups, local businesses and other members of the community including striking workers.

When: 1400 to 1500 hrs, Friday 21 November, 2025
Where: Afghan Imperial Restaurant, 201-203 Alum Rock Road, Birmingham B8 1EU

(Interviews with Unite officials and community activists available. Photographs also available on request)

The restaurant will be providing a buffet where the community and bin workers will come together to discuss the dispute. In addition, local roads will be filled with hundreds of estate agent style boards in people’s gardens demonstrating support for the bin strike.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The support of the local community for bin workers is overwhelming. The council and local MPs need to wake up and realise residents are backing the workers, return to negotiations and make a decent offer to workers.”

Unite has been organising a community-based campaign in support of the ongoing bin strike. Unite has knocked on the doors of over 16,000 homes in Birmingham, contacting over 6,500 residents. Of which 90 per cent have agreed to display a bin sticker or poster in support of the bin workers. Over 150 businesses, faith and community groups have also pledged their support for the striking bin workers.

This week striking bin workers overwhelmingly voted to continue to strike, which means that the industrial action could continue through Christmas, New Year and beyond the local elections in May. In an unprecedented development agency workers employed by Job & Talent covering the striking workers have also voted to join the strike action, due to bullying and excessive workloads.

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.