Piles of uncollected rubbish plague Birmingham as nearly 400 refuse workers strike indefinitely

Birmingham’s streets are drowning in filth as nearly 400 refuse workers down tools indefinitely, leaving piles of uncollected rubbish rotting in the city’s neighbourhoods. The industrial action, led by the Unite union, has thrown the UK’s second-largest city into chaos, with no end in sight.

The strike, which started after workers voted to extend their mandate, comes in response to Birmingham City Council’s use of temporary agency labour to bypass their industrial action. Unite has condemned the move as an attempt to “undermine” the strike, with general secretary Sharon Graham warning that disruption could stretch into summer if the council refuses to negotiate.

Unite claims that 150 workers are facing salary cuts of up to £8,000 following the council’s decision to scrap certain waste collection and recycling officer roles. The union has accused the council of forcing dedicated workers onto “barely above minimum wage” salaries while spending millions on agency staff.

“This disgraceful use of unlawful labour to try and break the strike has just resulted in industrial action escalating,” Graham said. “The only way this dispute will end is by halting the brutal and unnecessary attacks on our members’ pay.”

National lead officer Onay Kasab went even further, blasting the council as “heartless” and alleging that it had “slashed pay without a thought to the effect it is having on workers and their families.”

The strike has left streets lined with overflowing bins, bags of rubbish, and discarded waste, with residents fuming over the lack of collections. Some areas have already reported an increase in vermin, as mountains of decaying refuse continue to pile up.

Birmingham City Council has dismissed Unite’s figures, arguing that only 40 workers would be affected by the proposed pay changes. Officials claim these workers have been offered alternative roles, including LGV driver training for career progression.

“No worker will lose the sums Unite are claiming,” the council stated. However, the union has pushed back, insisting that workers have already voluntarily accepted pay cuts and deteriorating conditions following the council’s bankruptcy declaration.

Craig Cooper, strategic director of city operations, attempted to reassure residents, confirming that 90 out of 200 waste collection crews were still operating. “People should still put their bins out, and crews will get to them when they can,” he said.

As tensions flare, a strong police presence has been reported at picket lines, particularly at the Atlas Depot in Tyseley. Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou called the deployment “overkill,” arguing that officers “should be out doing other jobs” rather than monitoring striking workers.

Meanwhile, public frustration is reaching boiling point. Over 4,000 people have signed an online petition demanding urgent action to resolve the crisis.

With no resolution in sight, Birmingham faces a grim reality—weeks, possibly months, of festering waste, growing health concerns, and an increasingly bitter standoff between refuse workers and city officials.

BBC

Birmingham’s refuse workers have launched an indefinite all-out strike, escalating their dispute with the city council over pay cuts and job downgrades. The strike, which began at 6:00 GMT on Tuesday, follows months of intermittent action, leaving streets overflowing with uncollected rubbish.

Unite the Union argues that the removal of the grade three role threatens safety and disrupts waste services, while the council insists the role is non-essential. Residents, already facing weeks without collections, report worsening conditions, with rising concerns over rat infestations and health risks.

Despite the strike, the council deployed 90 of its usual 200 collection crews, urging residents to leave waste out for eventual collection. However, with no resolution in sight and tensions high, the dispute is set to further disrupt the city’s waste management. The council has called for renewed talks, but Unite insists the strike will continue until meaningful negotiations take place.

THE GUARDIAN

Birmingham’s refuse workers have launched an all-out indefinite strike, leaving rubbish piling up across the city. The dispute centres on the council’s removal of a waste collection role, which Unite claims is a “safety-critical” position. The council insists the role is unnecessary and has accused the union of holding the city “hostage.”

With only 90 of 200 collection crews deployed, waste accumulation is worsening, raising health concerns. Police were called as agency workers crossed picket lines, further escalating tensions. Unite warns the strike could last into summer, condemning the council’s use of temporary labour.

The strike comes as Birmingham City Council struggles with financial difficulties, having declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023. Meanwhile, in Bristol, a controversial proposal for monthly black bin collections has been scrapped following public opposition. Talks in Birmingham remain deadlocked, with no resolution in sight.