Manager caught on camera telling agency workers council chiefs will ban them from jobs if they refuse to cross picket lines

Birmingham council has been rocked by a blacklisting scandal after a manager was caught on camera telling agency staff that council chiefs had told him workers will be banned from permanent roles if they refuse to cross picket lines.

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

In the recording at the Atlas depot last Thursday, Job and Talent manager Mark Asson says: “Now I’ve spoken to Chris (Smiles), I’ve spoken to Rob Edmondson, and I think, you know categorically the council are not going to employ anybody that they don’t want to employ.

“So those people that do decide to join the picket line, then the council have confirmed to us that they are not going to get a permanent job.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Blacklisting workers for union activities is despicable. Those who do it are breaking the law and must be held to account.

“Birmingham’s bin workers are well aware that there is something rotten at the top of the council. That’s why they’ve been striking for nine months over ruinous £8,000 fire and rehire attacks on their wages.

“Ministers must act now to stop this appalling behaviour and bring this dispute to an end with a fair deal for the bin workers. The strikes will not end until it does.”  

Chris Smiles is a strategic operational director for Birmingham city council, while Rob Edmondson is the acting director of street scene.

Many of the agency staff have worked for Birmingham council for over a decade but have still not been offered directly employed roles.

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.