Birmingham bin strikes ‘could last until Christmas'
Unite has warned that the Birmingham bin dispute could last until December after workers voted to continue industrial action.
The union said its members voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout.
Strikes began in January after Unite claimed Birmingham city council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some.
Talks have been held via the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked.
Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said a proposal the council sent in writing last week 'came weeks late and was not in the ballpark' of offers discussed during Acas talks in May.
She added: 'After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week.
'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May.
'It had been watered down by the Government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations.'
She said it was 'hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on.'
Ms Graham added: 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes.
'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.'
Kevin Hollinrake MP, shadow local government secretary, said: 'It is yet more misery for residents of Birmingham at the hands of a Labour Party in hock to the unions.
'All Labour has done since they have got in is bend over backwards for the union barons who bankroll their party, but they still hold local residents to ransom. With the Employment Rights Bill looming and Angela Rayner on manoeuvres, it's a taste of things to come.
'It's about time Labour either ended this once and for all or apologised to hard-working residents affected by their gross incompetence.'
Labour has previously been accused of 'sabotaging' talks to end the strikes as Unite alleged an offer was 'blocked' by Government-appointed commissioners.
The commissioners were brought in by the previous Conservative government after the council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'This will be disappointing news, especially for the city's residents. We urge Unite to suspend its industrial action so both parties can continue negotiating in good faith and bring this dispute to an end.
'We will continue to act to protect public health whenever necessary.'
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