Birmingham’s bin workers are set to strike for 12 days starting tomorrow, escalating their dispute with the city council over job losses and pay cuts.
Birmingham: A new set of bin strike days has been announced. Starting tomorrow, February 4, over 350 bin workers will walk out. This action is due to a dispute with Birmingham City Council about job losses.
The strike days have increased, with the first one now set for tomorrow instead of February 7. Unite the union revealed that workers will strike for 12 days this month and 13 days in March.
The union called this a “line in the sand” for its members. The council claims it offered alternative jobs and retraining options to affected workers.
The dispute began when the council decided to eliminate the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role. This role is linked to equal pay claims from other services, and its removal is seen as necessary to prevent future claims.
However, the union argues that this role is crucial for safety and could lead to pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers.
Here’s the full list of strike dates: February 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, and 27. In March, strikes will occur on the 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 21, 25, 26, 28, and 31. There are also two strike days planned for April.
Unite warned that more strikes could happen if the dispute isn’t resolved. The union’s general secretary stated that the council must address the situation instead of ignoring it.
BirminghamLive has reached out to the city council for comments. They have previously stated that affected workers were offered other job options.
