Almost 400 bin workers have walked out indefinitely over a jobs dispute and pay which could cause “disruption” to waste services across Birmingham.
The Unite union has warned strikes could last well into the summer months as council bin workers voted to extend the industrial action as the council’s use of temporary labour, unite says this is to “undermine” workers walking out.
The union’s national lead officer, Onay Kasab, said, “The council could end this dispute tomorrow by agreeing to pay a decent rate of pay.
“The council is forcing dedicated workers on to pay levels barely above the minimum wage while undertaking a difficult and highly demanding job in all weathers.”
He added, “The council could easily afford this if it stopped wasting millions on expensive employment agency fees.
“Disruption to Birmingham’s refuse service will further deteriorate but this is the fault of a heartless council which has slashed pay without a thought to the effect it is having on workers and their families.”
Birmingham City Council are defending their position that they made a “fair and reasonable offer” to the union.
“We have already offered alternatives, including highly valuable LGV driver training for career progression and pay, and other roles in the council equivalent to their former roles,” the authority said.
“No worker will lose the sums Unite are claiming.”
The council added: “Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service.”
Resident have been advised to “put your residual waste out in the wheelie bins, and it may not be collected on the day because we’re being prevented from getting out the depots, but when we can, we will get there.”
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