00:00Birmingham City Council says changes to bin collections are crucial to its recovery plan.
00:08The aim is to cut costs while improving services, with separate collections for food waste and
00:13piper recycling.
00:14But with strike action still ongoing, questions are being raised about whether the plan can
00:19go ahead on schedule.
00:21The city's waste collection workers, backed by Unite the union, walked out over plans
00:26to scrap a key role in the service.
00:28The union argues the position is essential for safety, while the council insists it's
00:33no longer needed.
00:35With negotiations at a standstill, the strike has caused disruption across the city.
00:40Rubbish is piling up on the streets and with no resolution in sight, residents could face
00:45more delays in bin collections.
00:47Craig Cooper, the council's head of city operations, says the strikes are being driven
00:52by a small group of workers.
00:54He claims the council has made a fair offer and alternative roles have been proposed for
00:58those affected.
00:59Unite, however, says the strike isn't about causing disruption, but protecting workers
01:05and public safety.
01:06They say many of their members are also Birmingham residents, fearing the impact first hand.
01:11Meanwhile, the council continues to face wider financial struggles, with auditors blaming
01:16years of mismanagement and budget pressures.
01:19Libra councillors also pointed to a decade of funding cuts.
01:23If the dispute isn't resolved soon, bin services could be stretched even further, with warmer
01:28months approaching, concerns over hygiene and waste build-up are growing.
01:33For now, bin collection services remain uncertain.
01:36If the strike continues, plans for fortnightly collections could be pushed back, leaving
01:40Birmingham residents in limbo.
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