Overview

• Birmingham bin workers have been striking since March 11 over pay cuts tied to the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role.
• Acas has been brought in to mediate negotiations for the first time, with further talks scheduled next week.
• Significant progress has been made in clearing over 26,000 tonnes of rubbish, with regular bin collections resuming citywide.
• The council and union remain at odds, with Unite demanding assurances on pay and accusing the council of inconsistent positions in negotiations.
• The strike highlights financial strain on Birmingham City Council, which has been under government-appointed commissioners since declaring bankruptcy in 2023.