00:01Bin workers in Birmingham have voted to extend their industrial action until September,
00:06prolonging a dispute that has disrupted recycling collections for more than a year.
00:11Members of Unite began a series of one-day strikes in January 2025,
00:15before escalating to all-out action on the 11th of March.
00:19The union says the disagreement centres on pay and the restructuring of certain roles within the waste service.
00:25It claims some workers face losses of up to ÂŁ8,000 a year under new arrangements
00:30and has accused the council of firing and rehiring loaders and drivers.
00:35Birmingham City Council denies that figure and describes the decision to continue striking as disappointing.
00:43It says former waste recycling and collection officers have been redeployed or taken voluntary redundancy
00:48and that most driver team leaders have accepted revised roles with six months of pay protection.
00:55The authority says it plans to introduce a new waste collection regime in June,
01:00even if industrial action continues and maintains it remains open to talks.
01:06Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham says members are determined to secure what she calls a fair settlement.
01:13Agency refuse workers supplied through Job and Talent have also voted to continue their own strike action.
01:20Unite alleges bullying, harassment and threats of blacklisting within the department,
01:24claims the council has not accepted.
01:26it.
Comments