Birmingham bin strike
The Birmingham bin strike is a current standoff between members of the Unite union and the Labour-run city council in Birmingham, England.[1] The strike began on 11 March 2025 due to a dispute over pay and the elimination of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles.[1][2]
According to the union, approximately 150 to 170 of its members are facing pay cuts of up to £8,000 annually, with hundreds more losing out on pay progression.[1][2] The union also argues that the WRCO is important to health and safety.[1] According to Birmingham City Council, only 17 workers would be affected; the impact on pay would be far less; and all those affected by the elimination of the WRCO role have been offered other roles for equivalent pay, training as large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers, or voluntary redundancy payouts.[2] The council also says that the WRCO role does not exist at other councils, and that retaining the role opens it up to equal pay claims, since it is performed mainly by men.[1]
In March 2025, the Birmingham City Council declared a major incident after 17,000 tonnes of rubbish were left uncollected on the streets.[3] The city council has called on other local authorities to assist with clearing the backlog of rubbish.[4] In April, the British government called in Army specialists, including office-based military planners, to provide logistical support for the council, rather than deploying soldiers.[4][5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Fofana, Aida; Mayor, Rob (14 April 2025). "Birmingham bin strike to continue as deal rejected". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Birmingham bin strike to continue after refuse workers reject council's offer". Sky News. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ Murray, Jessica (14 April 2025). "Birmingham bin workers reject deal to end strike". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b Lissaman, Claire; Gupta, Tanya (13 April 2025). "Army experts called in over Birmingham bin strike". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ Stavrou, Athena (14 April 2025). "Rayner calls in the army over Birmingham bin strike as piles of rubbish grow". The Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2025.