Musical tribute released offering backing to Birmingham bin strikers one year on from start of strikes
A unique musical tribute has been released in support of the bin workers of Birmingham as a year of the all-out strike action.
Power To The Bin Strikers (Unite For Workers Rights) has been recorded by Birmingham's Banner Theatre in partnership with Unite and raises funds for the Unite members who have been taking industrial action for more than a year.
The political theatre troupe have reworked the 1960 hit My Old Man’s A Dustman by Lonnie Donegan into a contemporary protest song.
A satirical anthem, it hits out at politicians and council proposals to reduce workers' pay by up to £8,000 per year, the issue at the centre of the dispute.
Birmingham bin worker Danny Taylor, who has been on strike since the dispute began in January 2025, said: "Myself and the other bin workers are delighted with the song and want to thank Banner Theatre for their support.
"It is a recognisable folk song reworked to portray the striking bin workers targeted by a Labour council. We hope the general public will like it as much as we do."
The single is out on all platforms including iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon Music, Youtube Music, Deezer, Tidal and Qobuz.
It is performed by Dave Rogers and Mike Bethall from Banner Theatre and the music video features footage of the industrial action, including from the Unite picket lines and demonstrations around the bin strike.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite thanks Banner Theatre for writing and recording the song.
"The song will help to remind the general public why our members are on strike.”
A spokesman for Unite said: "Bin workers are striking because Birmingham city council has fired and rehired both senior loaders (former WRCOs) and drivers onto contracts that reduce pay by up to £8,000.
"Earlier this month, they voted to extend their industrial action mandate past local elections in May and into September."
