Bin strikes intensify in Birmingham. Union action over labor changes brings service disruption. Council defends its position.
Bin crews plan to strike more. The Unite union said over 350 will strike, stopping work five days a week starting March 11. Residents will likely face even more rubbish. Workers will vote on extending the strike.
This is about temporary labor use by the council. Unite claims it hurts their action. The council says only 40 jobs are changed. This involves a waste collection role removal.
The council offered other options to workers. They deny pay cuts of £8,000 for 150 workers. The council says the strike will disrupt residents. They feel their offer to Unite was reasonable.
Alternatives include driver training and other jobs. The council stresses no worker will lose the claimed amount. The restructure aims to improve waste collection. They encourage Unite to negotiate, thanking residents
The restructuring aligns with national practices. Many councils have a driver and two loaders. Birmingham’s current structure isn’t standard. It was created after the 2017 strikes.
The changes are needed for financial sustainability. All roles had evaluations done. Claims of £8,000 losses for 150 people are wrong. Seventeen staff could lose just over £6,000.
They get pay protection for six months. Routes have risk assessments for health and safety. Workers should report any safety concerns. Health and safety is everyone’s job.