Birmingham bin strikes could continue beyond May’s local elections, unless a deal is reached, after workers overwhelmingly voted to extend their strike action.
 

Agency workers to join picket lines

In an unprecedented development, the workers who are directly employed by Birmingham council, will now be joined on picket lines by agency workers employed by Job & Talent on the refuse contract.
 
A growing number of Job & Talent agency staff have been refusing to cross picket lines due to unsustainable workloads and the toxic and bullying workplace culture at the council’s refuse department. By voting for industrial action they will now be able to join official picket lines from Monday 1 December 
 

Major escalation of the dispute 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a real escalation in the dispute with agency workers now joining picket lines due to the terrible way they have been treated by Job and Talent and Birmingham council.
 
“Birmingham council is spending a fortune it doesn’t have on a dispute that could easily be resolved by agreeing a fair deal for workers.
 
"Unite does what it says on the trade union tin we are totally committed to fighting for the jobs, pay and conditions of all its members. Agency and directly employed workers alike in Birmingham council’s refuse service have the union’s complete and utter support.”
 

Long running dispute

Strike action began in January and became all out in March as a result of Birmingham council’s decision to cut the pay of drivers and senior loaders by up to £8,000 a year (between a quarter and a fifth of their total earnings). Affected workers have reported that the cuts would result in them losing their homes or being unable to feed their families.
 
There have been no formal negotiations over ending the dispute since May, after the council reengaged on a “ballpark deal” agreed with council chief executive Joanne Roney. Unite remains fully open to return to negotiations to resolve the dispute. Rather than continue negotiations the council instead took the decision to brutally fire and rehire its HGV drivers and forced them onto lower pay rates.
 

Misleading council claims

The council has claimed that it is unable to agree a fair deal for the striking workers due to “equal pay” concerns but has refused to provide the evidence behind the claim. Unite has obtained legal advice from leading equal pay barrister Oliver Segal KC which demonstrates that this is not the case (further information and a briefing on Unite’s legal advice is available on request).
 
There is growing alarm across Birmingham both at the mess and disruption that the strike is causing but also the additional costs that council taxpayers are being expected to fund, at a council which is officially bankrupt. Forensic accountant working with Unite estimate the direct cost to the council will hit £15 million by the end of the year.
 

Birmingham council responsible for strikes continuing

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Residents of Birmingham will be rightly concerned to see that the misery of bin strikes can continue through Christmas, New Year and beyond May’s local elections but the council is solely responsible for the ongoing dispute.
 
“Unite remains fully committed to return to meaningful negotiations to secure a fair deal for affected workers while also ensuring the endemic bullying culture and threats of blacklisting are stamped out.”
 
ENDS
 
Notes to editors:
 
For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.
 
Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org
 
Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org
 
Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham