Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike past Christmas and into spring

The UK’s leading union, said workers had overwhelmingly voted to extend their industrial action mandate to March 2026 over the cuts, which it said would leave some at risk of losing their homes.

Unite said the strikes have continued after it claimed the government appointed commissioners in Birmingham scuppered a deal that would have ended the dispute.

A spokesman for Unite said: "Talks brokered by the conciliation service ACAS in May and led by the council’s chief executive Joanne Roney agreed a 'ball park' deal which would have ended the dispute.

"However, Ms Roney latterly advised that she could not get the deal past the commissioners, so it is clear therefore that there is no point at this stage having further negotiations with the council. 

"The ball is in the government's court."

Unite also said that Birmingham Council has been paying millions extra to operate its refuse service during the strikes, with £6.5 million being spent on agency workers supplied by the Job and Talent employment agency.

It also said that in July, the government amended the Employment Rights act so that councils like Birmingham could legally fire and rehire their workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Throughout this dispute the government has denied any involvement. It is now clear that commissioners reporting to Angela Rayner blocked a ball park deal thrashed out at ACAS. 

“The recent amendment by the government to the Employment Rights Bill, that allows councils in debt to fire and rehire their workers shows what is really going on here.

“Council workers are being lined up to pay the price for years of austerity.

“There is no point at this stage negotiating further with the council as they do not have authority to resolve the dispute.

 “If Labour cannot see what is happening in Birmingham is wrong, it is little wonder workers are turning away from them in droves.”

Birmingham’s bin workers voted 99.5 per cent in favour of strike action with a turnout of 72 per cent.

The workers began intermittent strike action in January and indefinite strike action in March.

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Strike action will continue for as long as necessary with Unite’s unyielding support.

“Politicians’ treatment of these workers, including lies about no one losing pay and broken promises about being able to retrain in driving roles that are now nowhere to be seen, is amongst the worst Unite has even seen.

“The only way this dispute will end is with a fair and reasonable deal for Birmingham’s bin workers.”

A Birmingham council spokesperson said: “The ballot was not about any new negotiations or offers, but is part of Unite’s practice of refreshing their mandates for industrial action at regular periods during a dispute.”