Council leader addresses fears Birmingham ‘faces two strikes’

Birmingham has been forced to endure a turbulent couple of years as a consequence of the ongoing bins strike and the Labour-run council’s financial crisis.

Equal pay was one of several issues which contributed to the local authority effectively declaring itself bankrupt in September 2023, resulting in unprecedented service cuts.

In particular, unions have been claiming thousands of women have been “paid less than they are worth” and have been fighting for progress on equal pay in recent times.

There appeared to be a breakthrough on the issue late last year however when the council, UNISON and GMB announced they had reached a ‘framework agreement’ to settle claims.

At the time, council leader John Cotton said it intended to “mark the start of a new era of productive and progressive industrial relations”.

But GMB revealed earlier this month it would begin a consultative vote on strike action – a move which will gauge members’ interest.

The union argued progress on resolving the equal pay issue was “too slow” and added around 3,000 workers across Birmingham schools are expected to take part in this initial ballot.

At a full council meeting this week, the Conservative group leader Councillor Robert Alden argued residents were now facing “not one but two strikes across Birmingham” and asked whether the council leader would apologise.

“It’s time that the leader stopped pretending that they’re tackling the issue and instead try actually ending this Labour-made crisis,” he said.

Council leader John Cotton responded by saying the Labour administration recognises that equal pay risks have not been addressed over many years and has taken steps to rectify the situation.

He continued that the council was working “with pace” with trade unions, including GMB, to begin settling claims by the end of this year.

“With regards to the announcement that GMB have made, we’re working with them to understand the root of the issues,” he said.

Councillor Cotton also stressed it was a consultative ballot and not one for industrial action.

“We hope this will not derail our ability to keep to the timelines we agreed with GMB to get payments into the hands of eligible workers,” he added.

Equal pay fears have also been at the heart of the ongoing bins strike dispute between the council and Unite the union, which was triggered by the loss of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

“We will not be able to make progress until Unite accepts that the WRCO role cannot be brought back and that the council cannot and will not entertain anything that would re-open an equal pay liability,” Councillor Cotton argued earlier this year.

Speaking at Tuesday’s (July 8) meeting, he said: “Let’s be absolutely clear – we are facing challenges in the waste service but that has been about ensuring we do not cross the red lines we set around equal pay.

“[It’s also about how] we transform it into a service that benefits and works for every resident in this city, which it hasn’t in the past.

“We’ve got plans to make that happen – there’s nothing coming from the other side [of the council chamber] that will do anything to address any of those issues.”

‘Women are still being short-changed’

Rachel Fagan, GMB regional organiser, said last week: “It’s been nearly two years since the council finally admitted they had an equal pay crisis on their hands.

“Since then we’ve seen missed opportunity after missed opportunity to do right by women workers.

“Meanwhile thousands of women are still being short-changed and paid less than they are worth.”

She continued: “GMB members have been promised settlement by the autumn, but progress is too slow.

“They are voting to send a message that enough is enough; they are worth more and demand settlement of Birmingham’s equal pay claims.”

A spokesperson for the council said the local authority recognises it has, over many years, failed to address all of its equal pay risks.

“We have committed to ending that,” they continued. “Progress towards settling equal pay claims following the agreement reached in November 2024 is in line with plans agreed in partnership with GMB.

“The council continues to work at pace and progressively with GMB to begin settling claims by the end of this year.

“We sincerely hope that this will not delay our ability to keep to the timelines agreed with GMB and get payments into the hands of the eligible workers."

Meanwhile the bins strike dispute remains unresolved, with striking workers raising concerns about pay while the council’s leadership has repeatedly insisted that a “fair and reasonable” offer has been made.