Latest news with #BirminghamCouncil
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Birmingham bin strike could last until end of year as workers make crucial vote
Unite has cautioned that the Birmingham bin dispute may extend until December, following a vote by workers to continue industrial action over jobs and pay. The union reported that 97 per cent of its members voted in favour of striking, with a 75 per cent turnout. The strikes initially began in January, after Unite claimed that the council had informed bin workers of potential pay cuts of up to £8,000, which for some, represents a quarter of their wages. Despite talks held under the conciliation service Acas, the dispute remains unresolved. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week." 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. 'It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that the leader or the Commissioners had watered down any offer. It added that Unite's ballot was not a response to the council's latest offer that made through Acas. A spokesperson for Acas said: 'We recognise the challenges on all sides and the desire to find a resolution, and we stand ready to offer our support.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Bin workers in Birmingham vote to continue strikes over pay and jobs
Unite has warned that the Birmingham bin dispute could last until December after workers voted to continue industrial action in a long-running dispute over jobs and pay. The union said its members voted by 97% in favour of strike action on a 75% turnout. Strikes began in January after Unite said the council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some. Talks have been held under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. 'It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that the leader or the Commissioners had watered down any offer. It added that Unite's ballot was not a response to the council's latest offer that made through Acas.
Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Times
Birmingham bin strikes could last until Christmas after new vote
Birmingham bin strikes could last until December after union members voted to continue industrial action on Thursday. The Unite union said its members voted by 97 per cent to continue the strikes, which have left much of the city littered with bin bags in recent months, causing concerns over public health. On-and-off strike action has been taking place since January when an initial 12 walkouts were scheduled over four months. Bin collection workers then announced unlimited strikes on March 11. Disputes were initially over the removal of waste recycling and collection officer roles but later expanded to include the local authority's decision to hire temporary workers, which the union claims will 'undermine' strikes. Birmingham council insisted on Thursday that it had made a 'fair and reasonable' offer to bin workers. But Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said: 'After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council are treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined — the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' Birmingham council denied Graham's claims that the bill had been watered down and said its bin collection service needed to be changed entirely. The council said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.'
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Households can apply for new £200 cost of living payment in days
Birmingham Council will supply £ 200 cost of living payments to households in financial hardship. Applications for help are currently closed but will reopen in June Households can apply for a cost of living payment worth £200 this week and thousands can get one. The help comes from the Household Support Fund scheme. First launched in 2021, the cost of living scheme has given local councils pots of cash to support struggling households in their area. Each authority decides how it wants to spend the money, and help can range from free cash payments to supermarket vouchers. However, you can only claim help from the area in which you live. Birmingham Council will supply £ 200 cost of living payments to households in financial hardship. Applications for help are currently closed but will reopen in June. This week, the first day of June falls on Sunday. If you have already completed the enquiry form, then you will be on the waiting list and will be contacted within the next six to eight weeks to complete your full application. But completing the enquiry form does not mean that you are definitely entitled to receive a payment - your eligibility will still be checked. To be eligible for the money, you need to live in Birmingham, struggling to cover energy or food costs, and have not received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months. Birmingham Council has confirmed that the cost of living payment will not impact on any other benefits someone may be receiving or entitled to. The website details: "Please be advised that enquiries will reopen in June 2025. If you are not currently on the waiting list, and it has now been 12 months since your household last received a grant payment, you will be able to submit a new enquiry once the scheme reopens in June 2025. "Please be advised that each household is only eligible to receive one £200 grant payment in a 12-month period. e.g. If you received a £200 payment on 28th February 2024, you cannot make another application until 1st March 2025. Any enquiry submitted before your eligibility date will be rejected." Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. Birmingham Council also warns that it will "actively monitor" applications for signs of fraud, and details of those making an attempt will be passed to West Midlands Police." You cannot claim this support if you do not live in Birmingham. However, you are able to claim help from your local council through their own Household Support Fund scheme. Due to this system, it means it can be a postcode lottery for the support you can get. Local councils have started to share what help they will offer for this year's Household Support Fund and each council's website details its support offerings alongside its eligibility criteria. Usually, it has a separate cost of living tab. Each council will also have a different application process for the scheme. Some ask you to apply online, while others ask you to apply over the phone. Some councils are also reaching out to those eligible directly.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The man who built a two-storey HOUSE on his driveway: How family waged war with council over illegal home... but three years later who won?
It was a brazen move by a homeowner that set off a years-long feud with Birmingham Council. Mr M Singh was ordered to tear down a building on his driveway after he constructed a two-storey home in place of what was meant to be a humble garage. Council bosses were left shocked to discover the family, who had originally been given approval for a single-storey garage at their semi-detached property in Highgate, Birmingham, had instead built a little house. When MailOnline visited the property in October 2022, the homeowner had lost an appeal against the enforcement action, but the structure - including a large dormer window - was still intact. But three years later, the building, though remains standing, looks entirely different. Discussions between Mr Singh and the council led to both parties accepting modifications which have left it looking garage-like while keeping the front doorstep. The front door to the mini-property has now been replaced by a traditional garage door, and the large dormer window to the side has been ripped down. The row has left locals in the deprived area of Birmingham scratching their heads. Many felt sympathy with the homeowners who had taken a petition round for locals to sign in the hope of keeping their little house on the driveway. Habib, 19, a student, said: 'I remember walking past this on my way to school when they were building it. 'They put a lot of elbow grease into it. They were working from eight until five every day. 'It wasn't affecting anyone or blocking anyone's view of anything. It was neat. I'd be fuming if I was them.' But despite collecting dozens of signatures, the Singh family, whose property it is, were forced to alter the structure significantly. Nessa Baharun, who can see the property from her back garden, said: 'Sometimes the Council are just a bit over the top. 'No-one has had their view ruined. If anyone was affected it would be this house and next door but it doesn't bother us. 'It just sits in the corner. I feel sorry for them. They must have lost a lot of money. 'I have seen them taking furniture out of there, so I guess they just use it for storage.' Locals said that the change from house to garage happened over two years ago. One mechanic working on Vaughton Street, a collection of modern semi-detached homes facing a small patch of grass and factory units, said: 'I don't know what it is now. You couldn't drive a car into it, you'd wreck your tyres. 'And it is definitely not a house. It's a nothing.' Other locals questioned the Council's priorities. Neighbour Kemal, a businessman in his sixties, said: 'It does look a bit weird now. It made more sense before and it was not affecting anyone because it was tucked into the corner of the drive. 'This area has a lot of problems and that building is not one of them. 'Drug use is rife. The area is covered with these Top Whip canisters which are some sort of drug. 'We have a primary school on the road and children having to step over rubbish and drug stuff on their way to school. 'There's one patch of grass which is all littered and the Council are worrying about a neat little building.' Shabana Mubarik, a teacher at the nearby Chandos Primary School, said: 'This is a very deprived area. Staff regularly have to pick up canisters which are everywhere to protect the children. 'So I don't care about this little building. I guess it was some jealous neighbour who complained. You don't know. 'It makes sense to me to make use of the space you've got and their driveway allows them that space. I don't know why anyone would have an issue with it.' And Kyah Rosser, 18, out walking her dog, added: 'I've lived around here all my life and I think the Council should definitely have allowed them to keep what they'd done. 'It's their land. It makes no difference to anyone.' The Singh family initially put in their plans for a garage on their spacious driveway in 2009. But it wasn't until the aftermath of Covid that they started their build. Birmingham planners said the end result differed substantially from what was agreed and the family went on to lose an appeal against the order to tear it down. Most locals recalled Mrs Singh going around the area with a petition asking neighbours to support them. Geoff, a 60-year-old, said: 'I signed to support them but they misled the Government so they were always going to be in trouble. 'You can't say you want a garage and build a house even if it does make no difference. The rules is the rules.' But Kerry, a 30-year-old Mum on the school run, said: 'I do feel sorry for them. They had a plan to make their lives better, spent a lot of money and now they can't use it for its intended purpose. 'It's not blocking any scenic view. There's not much to look at around here.' The Singh family, whose property it is, did not wish to comment further, saying that the issue was now closed.
