4 days ago
Birmingham residents could suffer bin misery until Christmas
Birmingham residents could suffer bin misery until Christmas
Unite says the cuts will leave many unable to pay their bills, rents and mortgages
Rubbish has piled up in the city
(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live )
Nearly 400 Birmingham bin workers facing brutal pay cuts have voted to continue industrial action, Unite, the UK's leading union, said today. The ballot, which resulted in 97 per cent of workers voting in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout.
It means strike action could last until December. Strikes began in January after the council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some.
Unite says the cuts will leave many unable to pay their bills, rents and mortgages. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Bins have been piling up in the city
(Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS )
Bin workers in Birmingham have been striking since January and walked out indefinitely in March in a dispute over job and pay cuts.
Piles of black bags in the streets and overflowing wheelie bins have led to an influx of rats in some parts of the city.
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The city council made a renewed offer to the workers last week after mediated negotiations, but Unite said it was too little and too late.
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 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 its leader or the commissioners had watered down any offer, and said Unite's ballot was not a response to its latest offer made through Acas.
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