Latest news with #Acas
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bordesley public meeting calls for end to Birmingham bin strike
About 150 people have attended a public meeting calling for the union Unite and Birmingham City Council to resolve the ongoing strike by bin all-out strike began 13 weeks ago in a dispute over pay, and the union has warned the strike could last until December after members voted to continue the Hussain from End the Bin Strike, who organised the meeting in Bordesley, said the dispute had gone on too long and had seen an "unacceptable" environmental City Council said it had made a "fair and reasonable offer" and remained committed to resolving the dispute, but Unite said members still sought an "acceptable" deal. The meeting heard calls for council tax to be reimbursed and for residents to organise a bulk delivery of waste to the council have previously called for a council tax refund, to which the council said it was a legal responsibility to pay the Hussain, who estimated about 150 people attended the meeting, said talks held at the arbitration service Acas had failed and people now wanted an independent panel to be created to take over said the all-out strike began on 11 March, but on-off action had started in January, adding: "That's a long time." Residents had wanted council leader John Cotton to attend, Mr Hussain said, but he question raised was whether commissioners overseeing the council's financial situation were involved in the dispute and what they were doing."If the commissioners or the leader of the council are not negotiating directly with the union, there is going to be a stalemate," Mr Hussain public meetings will be held across the city, Mr Hussain said. A council spokeswoman said the authority recognised the "significant impact" the industrial action had on people and it was grateful to community groups who were working to clear spokeswoman said Cotton did not attend as it would not be appropriate for him to take questions on specifics of the negotiations and offers, which were sensitive, and complex legal matters. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bin workers in Birmingham vote to continue strikes over pay and jobs
Unite has warned that the Birmingham bin dispute could last until December after workers voted to continue industrial action in a long-running dispute over jobs and pay. The union said its members voted by 97% in favour of strike action on a 75% turnout. Strikes began in January after Unite said the 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 under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: '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. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. '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.' A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that the leader or the Commissioners had watered down any offer. It added that Unite's ballot was not a response to the council's latest offer that made through Acas.
Wales Online
05-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Birmingham residents could suffer bin misery until Christmas
Birmingham residents could suffer bin misery until Christmas Unite says the cuts will leave many unable to pay their bills, rents and mortgages Rubbish has piled up in the city (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live ) Nearly 400 Birmingham bin workers facing brutal pay cuts have voted to continue industrial action, Unite, the UK's leading union, said today. The ballot, which resulted in 97 per cent of workers voting in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout. It means strike action could last until December. Strikes began in January after the council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some. Unite says the cuts will leave many unable to pay their bills, rents and mortgages. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Bins have been piling up in the city (Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS ) Bin workers in Birmingham have been striking since January and walked out indefinitely in March in a dispute over job and pay cuts. Piles of black bags in the streets and overflowing wheelie bins have led to an influx of rats in some parts of the city. Article continues below The city council made a renewed offer to the workers last week after mediated negotiations, but Unite said it was too little and too late. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: '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. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. "It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. '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.' A council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that its leader or the commissioners had watered down any offer, and said Unite's ballot was not a response to its latest offer made through Acas. Article continues below
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
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.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bin strike deal offer watered down, says union
A deal offered to striking bin workers in Birmingham has been watered down, their union claims. Unite has called for further negotiations with the city council after a "ball park" proposal discussed at talks with conciliation service Acas had been revised "by government commissioners and the council leader". An all-out strike in the city is now in its third month, after staff walked out on 11 March over plans to downgrade some roles, which the union says could cost workers £8,000 a year. Birmingham City Council has been approached for a response over the current deal it is offering. Talks between the Labour-run council and Unite have been taking place with the conciliation service since the start of May, after previous negotiations to resolve the strike ended without a solution. The union's latest statement accuses the authority of missing deadlines on the proposals which had been tabled on Friday evening. "After weeks and weeks of saying one thing in public and another to workers, the government commissioners finally allow a proposal to be put on the table," said Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham. She said the offer had been watered down by the council leader and government commissioners "who were not in the negotiating room". Ms Graham said the offer would be discussed with reps over the weekend and a detailed response would be issued ahead of a reconvened Acas meeting. "The actual decision makers now need to be in the room at the further ACAS talks," she said. A court order preventing striking workers from delaying bin lorries leaving depots in the city will continue indefinitely, it was confirmed on Thursday. The union said it was preparing to challenge the injunction, but said it agreed to abide by the law on picketing. On 23 May, when the injunction was granted, the city council said disruption at depots had led to a backlog of up to 12,800 tonnes of waste. Police recently scaled down their presence on picket lines, where they had been helping to ensure bin trucks could get out of the depots, to prevent waste piling up on city streets. The West Midlands force withdrew after stating the issues did "not meet the threshold" to impose powers under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Bin strike picket court order to continue indefinitely Council gets court order over bin lorry blocking Union blames council for lack of bin strike deal Why are Birmingham bin workers on strike? Birmingham City Council Unite the Union
