Overview
- The walkout began on January 6, 2025 and escalated to an all‑out strike in March, leaving the dispute unresolved a year later.
- City leaders confirm a June 2026 transformation that will reintroduce recycling, move general rubbish to fortnightly collection, add weekly food waste pickups, and provide a second bin for paper and cardboard.
- Government‑appointed commissioners deem fresh talks not viable, support alternative arrangements, and report three compulsory redundancies.
- The council says contingency operations using agency crews have cut missed collections by 52% and increased tonnage collected per employee by 22%.
- Unite calls the changes a ‘fire and rehire’ pay cut of up to £8,000 and says some agency cover has also struck, as residents endure suspended recycling, increased fly‑tipping, and a drop in recycling rates from 23% to 15%.