Birmingham Bin Workers Protest ‘Zombie Council’ Over Job Cuts, Pay

Bin workers will protest tomorrow outside the council’s budget meeting, on March 4. Unite the Union represents these striking workers and calls the council a “zombie council.” The union says commissioners control the council and are cutting services and jobs.

This is the second protest in Victoria Square since February, outside Birmingham Council House. Bin workers began striking in January because the council scrapped a job role, the Waste Recycling role.

Unite says this cut hurts 150 workers, who could lose up to £8,000 yearly. Strikers worry about losing their homes and fear for their safety too. The union claims pay progression is unfair now, and years of service may not help workers.

Workers took pay cuts before to help the council, giving up £1,000 in shift pay. Now they say commissioners will attack jobs and pay more. Commissioners came to fix the council’s financial mess.

Unite says these commissioners hinder talks as they oversee budget cuts. Sharon Graham leads Unite, and she says the city’s workers are fighting back. The union fully supports them.

The protest starts at 10 AM in Victoria Square, on Tuesday, March 4. The council responded to the strike, which will continue from March 11, saying it will disrupt residents.

They claim they made a fair offer to Unite and offered alternatives to affected workers. Only 40 workers are impacted now, The council offered driver training and other jobs.

The council says no one will lose the amount Unite claims, and residents deserve better waste collection. The council says Unite opposes needed changes, but their door is still open for talks. They thank residents for patience and will give updates on their plans.