Bin strike in Birmingham could be back on as council protects legal position

Birmingham’s bitter refuse collection strike has reignited with trade union Unite saying it will hold a further ballot to extend its action.

The union said this followed the council issuing redundancy notices after the last minute cancellation of a cabinet meeting that had been called to discuss a joint union and council proposal aimed at resolving the dispute.

Unite said the notices had been sent to 100 employees in breach of an earlier agreement reached through the conciliation service, Acas. 

As a result it will re-ballot members for strike action from 8-18 September, and if it secures a positive vote would then have a mandate for action that could extend into the new year.

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “The council has given us no choice but to seek another mandate for action from our members.

"The past 24 hours have been extraordinary and totally at odds with the agreement Unite reached with the council in good faith through the conciliation service Acas.

"Frankly, the council leadership and officers' treatment of this workforce has been shoddy. “

A council statement said that it issued redundancy notices to ‘grade 3 leading hands’ in the refuse service to protect its legal and financial position, as approved by the cabinet on 27 June.

Birmingham said it wanted to continue talks with the unions through Acas “in parallel with seeking alternative jobs for the grade 3s affected by redundancy”.

Leader John Clancy said: “The new waste collection system we are introducing will provide a better, more efficient service for citizens and will enable the service to be run within budget.

“We will be creating more than 200 new refuse collection jobs for loaders. These will be full-time, offering a range of benefits, including pension entitlement and sick pay and will replace expensive agency contracts which do not include these benefits.”

The council said none of those facing redundancy need lose their jobs as alternative posts at the same pay would be available.

Refuse workers first went on strike in June but suspended the action last month after progress at Acas.

Unite said a regrading exercise could cut pay by £3,500-£5,000 a year.

The council had argued the proposed changes would save money by reducing reliance on agency staff.

Mark Smulian