Talks planned to resolve bins dispute

Trade union Unite wants to restart negotiations with Birmingham City Council to try to reach agreement and end the dispute that has seen rubbish pile up on the city streets in recent weeks.

Binmen have been taking action in protest at a restructuring that would see 121 waste collection staff made redundant. Unite members voted by 90% for strike action.

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “We are making every effort to resolve this dispute and, hopefully, we can hold talks with Cllr Clancy very soon, otherwise the industrial action already planned to run up to the middle of September will escalate.”

The industrial action currently involves two-hour stoppages on weekdays between 6am-8am and a one-hour stoppage every day from 12.30pm. This is scheduled until August 10, when the action will become three one-hour stoppages each day for six weeks.

At present, each refuse collection vehicle has a three-person crew – a driver and two at the back, one of which is responsible for safety. The council plans to downgrade the worker at the rear responsible for safety and make the driver responsible for safety both at the front and back of the vehicle.

Beckett added: “We have legitimate safety concerns about what the council proposes and are concerned that workers on as little as £21,000-a-year could face a pay cut of up to £5,000, if they are downgraded, which is unacceptable.”