A growing number of agency staff are refusing to cross the picket lines of striking Birmingham bin workers due to the toxic workplace culture at the council’s refuse department.

Around 15 agency workers, employed by Job & Talent on behalf of the council, today refused to cross the picket line at various depots.

Unite believes this number will continue to grow due to agency staff being threatened by managers with disciplinary action and losing their jobs, to pressure them into meeting unsustainable workloads.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is no surprise that more and more agency workers are refusing to cross the picket lines due to the toxic culture within the waste department. This is the same council that thinks it is acceptable to fire and rehire bin workers, imposing pay cuts of up to £8,000.

“Unite supports all Birmingham bin workers – whether they are employed by the council or an agency. The strikes will not stop until a fair deal is reached.”

Workloads are unsustainable because there are no recycling or garden waste collections, meaning that all refuse ends up in a single bin, which is often extremely heavy and overflowing.

An agency worker, who is remaining anonymous to avoid repercussions from his employer Job & Talent, said: “I have been an agency worker on the bins for nine years and have never been considered for a full-time job.

“Me and my colleagues in the last two months have been bullied and victimised and constantly put under pressure to complete our rounds and undertake extra work or face the threat of a disciplinary or the sack.

“The morale amongst the agency staff is at an all-time low due to the constant bullying from the agency and the managers."

Birmingham bin workers have been on strike since January over effective fire and rehire cuts of up to £8,000 and recently voted to continue industrial action until March next year.

Cash strapped Birmingham council is paying millions extra to operate partial refuse collections during the strikes even though it would cost a fraction of the amount spent to resolve the dispute and resume a full waste and recycling service.

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.