Bin workers stage protest outside Park Regis as dispute with council continues
Demonstrators challenge managing director to “come back to the table” during business event
Bin workers staged a protest outside the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham last night, where the managing director of Birmingham City Council, Joanne Roney, was meant to speak at an “In Conversation” event with business leaders.
The demonstration comes amid an ongoing dispute between refuse workers and the council. Protesters set up a small negotiating table outside the venue, saying it symbolised their willingness to resume talks immediately.
Workers claim Ms Roney walked away from negotiations in July and say the council has since refused to re-engage.
Matthew Reed, one of the striking workers, said they wanted to send a clear message “We want to show her that we’re here, willing any time she’s ready to come back to the table and settle this dispute.”
Two workers at the demonstration, Maxine Stanley and Adrian Hyde, told us they had received voluntary redundancy letters that morning. Maxine told us "they give us basically two days to accept it, or don’t accept it.”
In a previous statement on the bin strikes, Councillor Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport at Birmingham City Council, said:
“The council has engaged in negotiations with Unite, and while we remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement, Unite has rejected our fair and reasonable offers.
“The value of the lump sums being quoted as a ‘ballpark deal’ by Unite has never been offered. Unite continue to demand significant lump sums which are simply unjustifiable and do not represent best value for the council and the citizens of Birmingham.
“Our doors remain open for Unite to put forward constructive suggestions to resolve this dispute, and we want those taking strike action to return to work so we can continue delivering the waste services that the people of Birmingham expect and deserve.
“We know residents are frustrated and we are sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate their patience.”
We also spoke to Councillor John Cotton following the council’s recent budget proposals. He confirmed that planned reforms to the bin collection system will go ahead and said he is still keen to resolve the dispute.