00:00The bin strike that's left Birmingham streets overflowing with rubbish may soon be edging
00:09towards a conclusion. United, the union leading the action has agreed
00:14to meet with the conciliation service ICAS for mediation next week.
00:20The strike began in March after the council proposed downgrading some refuse workers,
00:25cuts that could cost them thousands a year. The union claims its members are being squeezed
00:32while the council insists talks are progressing and that further discussions are planned.
00:37But behind the scenes both sides accuse each other of saying one thing publicly and another
00:42behind closed doors. It's a standoff marked by mixed messages and mounting frustration,
00:48not just from the picket lines but from the people living amongst the mounting waste.
00:55Unite argues the fight has grown beyond job titles. They're demanding long term guarantees
01:00for bin lorry drivers, claiming some could be left up to £8,000 worse off. The council
01:06hasn't confirmed whether that's on the cards, only that more negotiations are due. The action
01:11has led to a major incident being declared due to health concerns. Garden waste and recycling
01:17services are still on pause despite claims that some regular collections have restarted.
01:24With talks now set for the start of May, there's cautious hope a resolution could finally
01:29be found. But with so much bad blood and the stakes this high, it's not just about picking
01:35up the bins anymore, it's about power promises and how public services are managed in a city
01:41already stretched thin.
01:42Already stretched thin.
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