The long-running bin strike in Birmingham is set to intensify significantly after agency staff, brought in to cover for striking workers, voted to begin strike action of their own.
Strike Action Expands
In a major escalation of the industrial dispute, agency staff employed by Job & Talent on the refuse contract will now join directly employed Birmingham City Council workers on official picket lines from December 1. The announcement was made by the Unite union on Monday 17th November.
This development signals a crucial widening of the action, which began with hundreds of Unite members walking out in an all-out strike back in March over disputes concerning pay and job security.
Union Condemns Treatment of Workers
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, strongly criticised the council and the agency. She stated that the decision by agency workers to join the strike was a direct result of the “terrible way they have been treated by Job & Talent and Birmingham Council.”
She further accused the council of spending “a fortune it doesn’t have on a dispute that could easily be resolved by agreeing a fair deal for workers.” Ms. Graham reaffirmed the union's “complete and utter support” for all workers, whether directly employed or agency staff.
Unsustainable Workloads and Lasting Dispute
The union has claimed that a growing number of agency staff are already refusing to cross the picket lines of the striking bin workers. The reason cited for this solidarity is the “unsustainable” workloads they are expected to handle.
In a stark warning, Unite has indicated that the bin strikes could persist beyond the local elections scheduled for next May, following an “overwhelming” vote by workers to prolong their industrial action. This suggests Birmingham residents could face many more months of disruption to their waste collection services.
