Agency workers join strike action as bin dispute deepens
Unite calls for renewed negotiations to resolve ongoing conflict
Agency staff have joined the picket lines from 5 AM today at various depots across Birmingham, escalating the ongoing bin dispute. A larger strike involving workers from all depots is expected to begin at 8:30 AM at Smithfield.
Matthew Reed, lead rep for Unite, criticised the council’s approach: “The council have pulled out of all negotiations. They say they want to negotiate the settlement. We don’t see how that’s possible if they haven’t negotiated with us since July.”
He described the mood on the picket lines as “defiant,” adding, “It’s not really what we want, it’s what we can’t accept, which is an £8,000 loss. We are in it until we get a fair deal that we can live with.”
Matthew also highlighted the significance of agency workers joining the strike: “You don’t normally see a workforce brought in to replace striking workers join them on strike. That shows how badly they’ve been treated inside.”
The dispute, now ongoing for months, has taken a heavy financial and mental toll on workers, who remain steadfast in their demands for fair pay and better working conditions.
In response, Birmingham City Council said they are disappointed the dispute remains unresolved but are continuing regular waste collections. A spokesperson said: “We have been collecting an average of approximately 1,330 tonnes of kerbside waste every day, more than before industrial action. Our contingency plan is working, and we continue to maintain at least one collection a week for residents.”
They added that a small number of agency staff are involved in a separate dispute with Job & Talent, the council’s waste operations contractor, and confirmed the city has plans in place to manage the situation while moving forward with long-awaited service improvements.