Overview

• Refuse workers in Birmingham, represented by Unite, have been on strike since March 11 over job eliminations and pay cuts, leading to 17,000 tons of uncollected waste.
• Birmingham City Council declared a major incident on March 31, deploying extra cleanup crews, but the backlog remains overwhelming as blocked depots hinder progress.
• Public health concerns are intensifying, with sightings of large rats and predictions of a surge in rodent populations as warmer weather approaches.
• Recent negotiations between the council and Unite have been described as 'productive,' but key issues, including pay disputes and job security, remain unresolved.
• Calls for government intervention, including potential military support, are growing as residents struggle to dispose of waste and face deteriorating living conditions.