BBC journalists have uncovered information suggesting that a deal between striking bin workers and Birmingham City Council was prevented from being reached due to the involvement of the Unite union’s national leadership team. The buildup of thousands of tonnes of rubbish on Birmingham’s streets over a span of four weeks has left local members dissatisfied with the handling of the dispute.
Despite a proposed deal being supported by refuse workers at two out of the three bin lorry depots, national figures from Unite intervened, leading to the rejection of the deal at the third site. Sources with knowledge of the matter have indicated that power struggles within Unite are influencing the handling of the dispute, causing increased tension and dissatisfaction among members.
The industrial action, which commenced in January and culminated in a complete walkout in March, has resulted in hundreds of Birmingham’s refuse workers striking over the loss of a job role deemed “safety-critical.” Birmingham council disputes the impact on staff, stating that no worker should face financial losses. The ongoing dispute has attracted attention from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, urging striking bin collectors to consider an “improved” deal to alleviate misery and public health risks posed by the accumulating rubbish.
In response to the mounting rubbish crisis in the city, a major incident was declared by the Labour-run council on 31 March, citing an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish strewn across Birmingham’s streets. Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham penned a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, criticizing the local negotiations and attributing the failed resolution attempts to government commissioners overseeing Birmingham council’s financial recovery. The ongoing situation has raised tensions between Unite and political stakeholders, with residents expressing growing frustrations over the prolonged dispute
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
