Nearly 400 bin workers in Birmingham have overwhelmingly voted (97% in favor) to continue industrial action, potentially extending the strike until December. The dispute, ongoing since January over job and pay cuts, has led to significant waste accumulation, rat infestations, and road closures due to crowds at waste collection points. Unite, the union, insists the council's latest offer is insufficient, while the council maintains it's fair and denies watering down any deal.
Birmingham bin dispute could run until December after vote for more strikes
BirminghamIndustrial actionTrade unionsUnitePoliticsUK
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Nearly 400 bin workers in Birmingham have overwhelmingly voted (97% in favor) to continue industrial action, potentially extending the strike until December. The dispute, ongoing since January over job and pay cuts, has led to significant waste accumulation, rat infestations, and road closures due to crowds at waste collection points. Unite, the union, insists the council's latest offer is insufficient, while the council maintains it's fair and denies watering down any deal.
Trending- 1 Birmingham bin workers begin striking (January)
- 2 Bin workers walk out indefinitely (March)
- 3 Birmingham City Council declares itself effectively bankrupt (2023)
- 4 Council makes a renewed offer to workers after mediated negotiations (last week)
- 5 Unite members vote overwhelmingly (97%) in favor of further strike action (latest ballot)
- 6 Council granted a court order to stop waste vehicles being blocked from leaving depots (recent weeks)
- Accumulation of uncollected waste (over 12,000 tonnes in one week reported)
- Influx of rats in some parts of the city
- Huge queues at mobile waste collection points
- Road closures due to overwhelming crowds at waste collection points
- Deterioration of relations between striking workers and the council
- Potential financial impact on workers (up to £8,000/year loss claimed by Unite)
- Disruption to city services and public inconvenience
What: Bin workers in Birmingham have voted to continue their industrial action, which could potentially extend the strike until December. The ongoing dispute centers on proposed job and pay cuts, leading to significant accumulation of uncollected waste and related public health issues in the city.
When: The latest ballot for strike action occurred recently (implied within the last few days); the strike has been ongoing since January and indefinitely since March; the dispute could run until December.
Where: Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Why: Workers are striking in response to proposed job and pay cuts by the Birmingham City Council. Unite, the trade union, claims that 170 workers face losing up to £8,000 annually under the council's current proposals, although the council disputes these figures. The council states its aim is to transform the waste service.
How: Workers are engaging in industrial action, including strikes and picketing. The trade union, Unite, is involved in negotiations with the Birmingham City Council. Relations have deteriorated, leading to the council obtaining a court order to prevent waste vehicles from being blocked at depots.