Agency staff refuse to cross Birmingham bin workers’ picket lines, Unite claims
Some agency staff are refusing to cross picket lines of striking Birmingham bin workers involved in a long-running dispute over pay and jobs, a union has claimed.
Unite said a growing number of agency staff are refusing to cross the picket lines of striking Birmingham bin workers, blaming a “toxic workplace culture”.
Around 15 agency workers employed on behalf of the council refused to cross the picket line at various depots on Wednesday, said the union.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is no surprise that more and more agency workers are refusing to cross the picket lines due to the toxic culture within the waste department.
“This is the same council that thinks it is acceptable to fire and rehire bin workers, imposing pay cuts of up to £8,000.
“Unite supports all Birmingham bin workers – whether they are employed by the council or an agency. The strikes will not stop until a fair deal is reached.”
Unite members have been on all-out strike since March.
Birmingham City Council has refuted 'toxic workplace culture' claims by Unite while the authority admitted that 11 Job and Talent employees joined the Perry Barr picket line, while three others have been participating at Lifford Lane depot’s picket line for several months.
BCC said its requirement to collect from an average of 1,050 properties a day is in line with the industry standard – and this is recognised and agreed as reasonable by Unite locally. It further stated that all BCC and agency workers have been advised that allocated work needs to be completed, but stressed that BCC has not made any threat to agency workers in regards to losing their jobs
Birmingham City Council said: “We strongly refute Unite’s claims of a ‘toxic workplace culture’ at our waste depots which are unfounded. Our agency workforce have been crucial to delivering a consistent waste service during this strike, with improved reliability for residents.
“Transformation of the city’s waste service began in 2024. Part of this transformation includes initiatives to enhance our waste colleagues’ progression and training opportunities alongside work to foster a positive and collaborative working environment.
“Managers regularly engage with workforce through ‘check-ins’ and 1-2-1s, and we have also invested in new welfare facilities for our agency workforce.
"Our crews’ and contractors’ workloads are in line with industry standards, with crew performance monitored to ensure collection standards are met. Crews are supported throughout their employment, and the management team work in partnership with the agency and the collection crews to jointly review targets.”
