Overview

• Birmingham City Council and Unite union are set to hold new negotiations to resolve the six-week bin strike caused by the scrapping of the WRCO role.
• The strike has resulted in 21,000–22,000 tonnes of uncollected waste, sparking public health concerns, including reports of large rats near rubbish piles.
• Unite union members overwhelmingly rejected the council’s latest offer, citing potential £8,000 pay cuts for affected workers despite reassurances of alternative roles with no income loss.
• Council leader John Cotton emphasized the need to end the strike but maintained red lines regarding equal pay liabilities and service transformation.
• Fears persist that similar disputes could spread to other UK cities, raising broader concerns about industrial relations and government-union dynamics.