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Industrial action in Birmingham’s refuse department has intensified as agency workers affiliated with the Job&Talent recruitment agency have joined ongoing bin strikes, prompting the cancellation of Monday’s bin collections. Unite union representatives confirmed that 18 out of 22 agency employees chose to participate in the strike starting from 1 December, citing concerns over workplace bullying, harassment, and threats of blacklisting within the council’s waste services. This development adds complexity to the dispute that began in March when Unite members initially walked out, challenging Birmingham City Council over pay and job security issues.
The council announced that bin collections across the city would be suspended for the day due to widespread picketing and protests at depot locations, promising a resumption of services on Tuesday. A rally took place at the Smithfield depot on Pershore Street, where striking workers gathered before marching to the Council House in Victoria Square. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana addressed the crowd, emphasizing support for the workers, while Unite estimated that roughly 40 workers were actively involved in the industrial action. Despite the disruption, the recruitment agency stated its commitment to adhering fully to employment laws throughout the dispute.
Among the contentious issues raised by Unite are claims that bin drivers employed through Job&Talent experienced bullying tactics, such as public ranking of their driving performance displayed on a league table at the Smithfield depot. In addition, last month Unite revealed that managers allegedly threatened agency workers with blacklisting or exclusion from future shifts if they refused to cross the picket lines. Agency worker Luke Graham spoke out in support of the strike, stating he wanted to “stand up for what is right,” and highlighted the lack of recognition and ongoing threats despite workers’ efforts to maintain services by working overtime. “I came out with no expectation of going back in,” Graham added, underscoring the growing frustration among agency staff.
Legal measures have also been taken to limit the impact of the strike. A High Court injunction granted at the end of May restricts the number of picketers outside depots to six at any time and prohibits tactics such as blockading entrances or impeding vehicle movement. The initial dispute originated from the council’s decision to eliminate a waste collection and recycling officer post, a change that Unite said could reduce affected employees’ earnings by up to £8,000 annually, although the council maintains it presented a “fair and reasonable offer.” Unite’s national officer Onay Kasab described the agency workers’ strike vote as “hugely significant,” stressing the rarity of agency staff, often hired to break strikes, choosing instead to join industrial action themselves. The ongoing strikes have reportedly caused rubbish to accumulate several feet high on some streets, despite recent council claims that kerbside waste collection volumes have increased compared to pre-strike levels
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