Overview

• The Fire Brigades Union publicly demanded a “decent settlement” from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner for striking bin workers
• Members of Unite have been on all-out strike since March 11 over proposed cuts to Waste Recycling and Collection Officer roles and potential £8,000 pay reductions
• Heaps of uncollected refuse remain across Birmingham, raising public health concerns despite government logistical support
• Birmingham City Council has paused negotiations and launched redundancy consultations over equal pay liabilities tied to the waste service restructure
• Unite’s suspension of Angela Rayner’s membership and its review of affiliation highlight deepening rifts within the Labour Party