Birmingham bin strike protesters fire local election warning to Labour as crucial May ballot approaches

The ongoing bins strike, triggered by a dispute between the council and Unite the union, is set to be a major talking point in the May local elections in the city.

All 101 council seats across Birmingham are being contested, which means the election will decide which party or coalition runs the city council during the next four years.

With the industrial action now dragging on into its second year, bin workers and Unite members have recently warned that Labour in Birmingham could face paying a heavy price in the election if the strike is not resolved soon.

Speaking at a recent rally outside the council house, Unite organiser Claire Peden, 42, said: “We know councillors are up for election in May and they know themselves it’s going to have a massive impact on their ability to be elected or re-elected.

“I think the council should take a little bit of notice here as it’s passing the stage of no return for Labour in this city.”

She added: “This is a message to all political parties – if you come for our members, we will fight back no matter what colour rosette you wear.”

Fellow Unite organiser Michael Agboh-Davison, 49, echoed similar thoughts, saying: “I think their actions have so far massively damaged their chances of retaining the council in May.

“I think they’ve got a chance if we resolve the dispute fairly for the workers now.

“If we get into the election period in May and this is still going on, I think the effect on Birmingham Labour will be apocalyptic.”

Agency worker Luke, who joined the bins strike in the middle of November, said at the rally: “I feel like the people in charge of this council won’t be in charge much longer.

“The people who are next in charge need to listen more to their people and need to take action that people need.”

“If someone else steps in power, I hope they see Birmingham for what it is,” bin worker Steve told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“It’s a pleasant, vibrant city and it’s not that at the moment – it’s the vibrancy that we need back.

“Why would you want to come to a dirty city?”

Addressing a crowd of union members and protesters at the Perry Barr depot during the third ‘megapicket’ on Friday (January 30), one Unite speaker said: “We will stand strong and firm until a fair and reasonable offer is made.

“We’re ready to get round the table whenever they are.

“They know the elections are coming up and they’re under pressure, so with a bit of luck, we’ll get somewhere soon.”

Unite member Mike Masters also told the gathered crowd: “Birmingham wasn’t built by suits and ties – it was built by blood, sweat and tears.

“12 months later, we are still fighting."

‘City’s best days are ahead’

The council’s leadership has argued that the bins strike dispute, initially sparked by the loss of a Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role, has not been resolved because of Unite ‘rejecting previous offers’.

The past 12 months or so have seen striking workers claim they face a pay cut of £8,000 – a figure the council has disputed.

The council has insisted a fair offer had been made before negotiations came to an end last summer, with the authority saying it had ‘reached the absolute limit of what we can offer’ amid equal pay fears.

The union claims that a “ballpark” deal had been agreed last year after hours of discussions but added this figure could not get past government-appointed commissioners.

Unite also claimed a new offer was much lower compared to the “ballpark” figure and therefore couldn’t be accepted.

Addressing the strike at a recent meeting, Birmingham council leader John Cotton said: “[Bringing this dispute to a close] has to be done on the basis of not reopening this council’s equal pay liabilities and delivering a modern waste service.

“Those points are non-negotiable – we are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

“We are open to dialogue to find a solution,” he continued.

“However, those points have to be non-negotiable – it would not be in the best interests of the taxpayers of this city if we were to do anything else.”

The council’s managing director Joanne Roney recently said there had to be a “reasonable amount of recognition for both parties”, particularly with the council’s equal pay and financial position.

“They are just parameters within which I have to operate,” she said. “[The council and Unite] are miles apart.”

Looking ahead to the local elections in May, Councillor Cotton acknowledged “the last few years haven’t been easy” amid the bins strike and council’s financial crisis.

“Tough decisions have had to be made but Labour is investing in Birmingham’s renewal and fixing the foundations,” he said.

“With a Labour council and a Labour Government working together side-by-side with a Labour mayor, the city’s best days are ahead.

“I’m looking forward to getting out on the campaign trail across Birmingham, hearing from local people and working together to shape the future of our great city.”