Overview

• Unite union and Birmingham City Council have resumed negotiations under Acas mediation, with optimism that a deal could be close.
• The strike, ongoing since March 11, stems from the council's removal of a waste recycling role, which workers argue would result in significant pay cuts.
• Efforts by military logistics advisers, neighboring councils, and private contractors have cleared over 26,000 tonnes of rubbish, restoring regular bin collections.
• A secret council dossier highlights public health risks, including rat-borne diseases, mental health impacts, and emergency access issues due to accumulated waste.
• Unite warns that similar strikes could spread to other councils if worker pay cuts are pursued elsewhere.