Mayor demands resolution ahead of permanent Birmingham bin strike
Speaking ahead of the strike, Richard Parker, mayor for the West Midlands, said the union and the council should sit down to find a resolution as a "matter of urgency". "This bin strike is doing damage to the people of Birmingham," he said. "They're not getting their waste collected and their streets are getting increasingly filthy. "Both sides need to sit down in earnest and with real seriousness to address this issue. "
Union bosses have said the strikes started due to a dispute over pay and conditions, particularly the loss of a certain job role. Residents are also voicing their frustration over the situation, with a petition which calls on the Labour-run council to "take immediate action to resolve the ongoing failures" attracting more than 4,000 signatures as of Monday. The petition's organiser, Nicola Walker, wrote that overflowing bins "attract pests and create foul smells" and demanded an immediate resolution."The council are leaving the streets full of rubbish which in turn will make the city's rat problem even worse," one resident added.Birmingham City Council have been approached for further comment.
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