Military Planners Deployed as Birmingham Bin Strike Ballot Looms

With over 17,000 tonnes of rubbish piling up, the government has called in office-based military support while bin workers prepare to vote on a partial pay deal.

The Birmingham bin workers' strike, ongoing since March 11, has resulted in an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish accumulating across the city, raising public health concerns.
The government has deployed office-based military planners to assist Birmingham City Council with logistical coordination, though soldiers will not engage in manual waste collection.
A ballot on a partial pay protection deal for some workers is set to conclude today, offering a potential step toward resolving the dispute.
The strike stems from the council's plan to abolish a waste recycling role, which Unite claims could result in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for affected workers; the council disputes these figures.
The crisis highlights broader financial strains on Birmingham City Council, following a £760 million equal pay ruling, and has drawn political criticism over its handling of the situation.