The end of the year-long Birmingham bin strike is now “within sight”, the city council leader has said after committing to an improved offer for refuse workers. John Cotton, the Labour leader of Birmingham city council, stated on Monday that a new offer could be made which he hoped would “end the strike once and for all”.
Bin workers began striking in January 2025, escalating to a full stoppage in March, over proposed pay cuts and role changes. The dispute led to 17,000 tonnes of rubbish accumulating across the city, forcing the council to declare a major incident. Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, described the council’s move as a “vindication of the bin workers’ struggle”.
The broad outline of the deal includes a two-month cushion from any salary reduction resulting from a job evaluation process, permanent contracts for agency workers with over 12 months’ service, and the dropping of disciplinary and legal actions on both sides. Full details remain confidential until the council submits a formal offer, which will be subject to a vote by workers.
The strike stemmed from the council’s decision to scrap the waste recycling and collection officer role, citing equal pay risks. Unite claimed the change could cost some members £8,000 a year, a figure the council disputed. Graham criticised government commissioners overseeing the bankrupt council for blocking earlier deals, calling their conduct “malevolent game-playing”.
The announcement comes ten days before local elections that could see a political shake-up in the Labour-run city. Robert Alden, leader of Birmingham Conservatives, accused Labour of “wanting residents to believe they have a deal 10 days before an election”. Labour has faced previous financial pressures, including a £760m equal pay settlement in 2024 that contributed to the council’s effective bankruptcy.
