Bin collections suspended amid mass protests in Birmingham
Birmingham City Council has confirmed no bins will be collected today (1 Dec).
Bin collections in Birmingham have been suspended as striking workers form mass picket lines and protests at the city's depots.
Union members - as well as the agency workers who were brought in to cover the striking staff - have been protesting today over pay and conditions.
The council said: "Due to expected mass pickets and protests across our waste depots, we have taken the decision to suspend collections today, 1 Dec.
"We apologise for the inconvenience. Collections will resume tomorrow.
"We aim to complete all collections by Sunday. Please leave your bin out as usual."
Though bin workers in Birmingham have been taking industrial action over pay and conditions since January, today marks the first day of strike action by agency workers.
Unite said the Job & Talent agency workers had voted in favour of strike action "over bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting at the council's refuse department two weeks ago".
The union said the number of agency workers who will join the strike action is "growing daily".
Strikes by directly-employed bin workers could continue beyond May's local elections.
The directly-employed bin workers voted in favour of extending their industrial action mandate earlier this month.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Birmingham council will only resolve this dispute when it stops the appalling treatment of its workforce.
"Agency workers have now joined with directly-employed staff to stand up against the massive injustices done to them.
"Instead of wasting millions more of council taxpayers' money fighting a dispute it could settle justly for a fraction of the cost, the council needs to return to talks with Unite and put forward a fair deal for all bin workers.
"Strikes will not end until it does."
Birmingham City Council said: "The council does not condone any actions which are contrary to legislation and good employment practice. Blacklisting will not be tolerated. A full investigation was immediately initiated. This has now concluded and has found that no blacklisting has taken place.
"We strongly refute Unite’s claims of bullying which are unfounded. Our agency workforce have been crucial to delivering a consistent waste service during this strike, with improved reliability for residents.
"Transformation of the city’s waste service began in 2024. Part of this transformation includes initiatives to enhance our waste colleagues’ progression and training opportunities alongside work to foster a positive and collaborative working environment. “Managers regularly engage with workforce through ‘check-ins’ and 1-2-1s, and we have also invested in new welfare facilities for our agency workforce.
"While we are disappointed the dispute has not been resolved as Unite has rejected all our offers, we are continuing to make regular waste collections and our contingency plan is working."