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2w ago

Birmingham Bin Strike Talks Resume as Waste Collection Stabilizes

Union and council officials meet on 23 April to negotiate after a month-long strike, with over 26,000 tonnes of rubbish cleared and regular collections largely restored.

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Overview

  • The strike, which began on 11 March, stems from the council's plan to abolish the waste recycling and collection officer role, cutting pay for 150 workers by up to £8,000.
  • Birmingham City Council declared a major incident on 31 March due to public health concerns from uncollected waste, which attracted vermin and raised sanitation issues.
  • With support from military logistics advisers and private operators, over 26,000 tonnes of waste have been cleared, and more than 100 bin trucks are now operating daily.
  • Unite union members rejected the council's latest offer on 14 April by 97%, calling it inadequate, but negotiations resumed on 23 April with no immediate resolution in sight.
  • The prolonged dispute has strained the council's finances, already weakened by its 2023 bankruptcy, with clean-up costs projected to exceed £200 million.