Latest news with #JohnCotton
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Birmingham bin strike: Council court order after lorries blocked
Birmingham City Council has been granted a court order to stop waste vehicles being blocked from leaving depots. The authority believes more than 12,000 tonnes of uncollected waste have accumulated on streets this week as all-out strike action by refuse workers were said to have been disrupted "due to industrial action by pickets" where police recently scaled down their presence. Unite, which is representing workers, has previously said the actions of its members on the picket line are legitimate. Delayed collections during the initial weeks of the industrial action were down partly to picket lines blocking trucks from leaving waste the time, striking workers insisted they were only stopping lorries if they had safety concerns, but ugly scenes prompted Labour council leader John Cotton to condemn what he called "violence". West Midlands Police last week said a threshold for using special powers was no longer being met but it would "continue to have a presence" at depots. However the council said the move had led to an "increase in disruption at our depots, with workers and vehicles being prevented from doing their jobs". Late on Friday, the council said it had secured an interim injunction which would last until Thursday when a further legal hearing will take place. "Everyone has a right to protest [but] the council has a public health duty to uphold and clearing waste is central to this," it said."This is not something we wanted to do and have given Unite many opportunities to co-operate with us and avoid this course of action." All-out strike action began on 11 March but rubbish collections have been disrupted since the start of January. The row is now focused on proposed cuts to the pay of bin lorry drivers, with talks entering their 11th week. Unite has blamed government-appointed commissioners, who have been overseeing the council's operations since its effective bankruptcy, for the apparent lack of secretary Sharon Graham said negotiations had been "a shambles" and called on the council leader to "stop playing games, get in the room and solve this dispute"."The bottom line is that our members can't afford to have savage pay cuts of up to £8,000 with no mitigation," she said. The BBC has contacted the union for its response to the court order. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Birmingham bin strike: Unite blames council for lack of progress
The union representing Birmingham's striking bin workers has broken its near-three-week silence on ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the action to blame the city council for the lack of a deal.A Unite spokesperson also blamed government-appointed commissioners, who have been overseeing the council's operations since its effective bankruptcy, for the apparent lack of all-out strike over plans to downgrade some roles, which the union says could cost workers £8,000 a year, began on 11 March, following weeks of intermittent City Council said it was committed to ending the dispute while the government urged Unite to suspend its strike action. Talks between the council and Unite have been taking place with conciliation service Acas since the start of May, after previous negotiations to resolve the strike ended without a union's latest statement accuses the council of failing to meet a promised deadline to lay out an offer - and questions the very existence of such an offer."Unite deals with thousands of negotiations every year," said Unite's General Secretary, Sharon Graham."From the council side, the negotiations in this dispute have been a shambles, with the government right at the heart of it."Ms Graham called on council leader John Cotton to "stop playing games, get in the room and solve this dispute"."The bottom line is that our members can't afford to have savage pay cuts of up to £8,000 with no mitigation," she added."Until that issue is addressed the strikes will continue." A spokesperson for the council said the authority was committed to seeking a negotiated settlement to end the said: "Our focus has been to find a solution to this that does not put the council in a position that compromises us financially or legally. This is why we are committed to making a revised offer."The council defended the commissioners and said they were "fully supportive" of finding a solution to the strike.A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson called on Unite to suspend strike action and urged both parties to "reach agreement on a fair and reasonable offer". Industrial action has been ongoing since January, when bin workers began a series of escalated into an all-out strike, now in its eleventh one point, there were estimated to be 21,000 tonnes of rubbish on Birmingham's streets and there have been queues of up to a mile at mobile collection city council has previously defended its job evaluation process as "fair and transparent" and said it was "working hard" to reach a was itself previously accused of scuppering a potential deal, a claim which it denied. Meanwhile, protesters supporting the striking bin workers disrupted a ceremony to mark the election of Birmingham's new Lord Zafar Iqbal took up the role on Tuesday but the event saw shouts from the public gallery including one woman angrily yelling: "Could you take an £8,000 pay cut?"The outgoing Lord Mayor, Ken Wood, shouted back at them to sit down before asking for the gallery to be cleared. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Counter-protest as Birmingham Britain First rally reaches Victoria Square after ‘security breach'
Hundreds of Britain First supporters held a march and rally in the centre of Birmingham despite the city council refusing access to a main square and a counter protest nearby. Supporters of the right wing political party gathered at the junction of Hill Street and Navigation Street at midday. They then marched toward New Street Station, along Lower Temple Street, and back along New Street, with counter protesters seen close by. The protestors marched into Victoria Square where a stage and video screen had been set up, despite Birmingham City Council saying the protestors would not be welcome and would not be allowed on the square. Read more: Birmingham City Council set to disrupt far right Britain First rally plan As the Britain First group had speakers, including its leader Paul Golding, address their audience on the upper level, counter protestors held their own rally on the lower level nearer New Street. There was a heavy police presence and the two groups were largely kept apart save for shouting at each other. Read more: Powerful message from Birmingham's anti racists on day of far right 'hate march' Birmingham City Council has refused to give vehicle access for Victoria Square to Britain First. But despite the refusal, the group had set up a stage and screen and were able to hold their rally. City council leader, Cllr John Cotton said: 'We're investigating how Britain First accessed Victoria Square today as this is a serious breach of security. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join 'This protest is incompatible with our commitments to equality, community cohesion and the promotion of British values. 'This is not what Birmingham and its citizens stand for.' Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox The rally was wound up at around 2.30pm when the Britain First Group marched back to Hill Street where they dispersed. It appeared to pass off without much incident. Earlier a West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We have a long history of upholding the right to protest, while balancing it with the rights of others, to keep the public safe and prevent crime and disorder.' Following the protest a spokesman for the force added: 'The planned demonstration and counter demonstration in Birmingham city centre passed without significant incident. There were no arrests.' Birmingham Race Impact Group, a collaborative of people and organisations across the city united against racism posted a powerful message on Saturday. Member Mukhtar Dar issued a stark reminder that racism and racial hatred are never gone - 'it lingers in returns wearing new faces.' His full message can be read here. He says of today's (Saturday's) planned march through Birmingham by Britain First, a proclaimed far right organisation with a history of hate, that it is 'not merely a is an attempt to defile a city built on resistance, dignity and defiant pluralism.' He says of our city: "Birmingham is not just diverse; it is defiantly so. From Handsworth to Sparkbrook, our city's strength lies in its solidarity — in car workers and Caribbean nurses, Irish builders and Somali shopkeepers, in mosques and gurdwaras and churches alike. "To allow Britain First to march through our streets unchallenged would be to let hate walk, unchecked, through the soul of our shared home."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business case approved for city tram extension
A business case for the next phase of extension work to Birmingham's tram system has been approved after councillors heard the line would "unlock" the redevelopment at Birmingham City's new football stadium. West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) bosses said completing sections three and four, between Park Street and Meriden Street, was "crucial" for the Midland Metro line to reach the east of the city and Blues' £3bn Sports Quarter development. The work is part of the Birmingham Eastside Extension project and will also provide a transport link to HS2 at Curzon Street and support regeneration in Digbeth. The first phase was completed in August. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said the importance of the new route went beyond the benefits to Digbeth and was about how the extension could help to "unlock the full potential" of east Birmingham. "The Metro extension has to be a key part of how we drive that change," Cotton added. The WMCA board approved £107m of funding for the second phase of the project, of which West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he had fast-tracked more than £62m to enable the phase to start this year. "This line is about more than transport, it's about connecting people in Birmingham and the Black Country to opportunity. "It's already drawing in major investment and helping to breathe new life into this part of the city centre," he added. However, Parker said the extension had "taken too long". "The sooner we deliver it, the sooner we bring in the jobs, homes and regeneration promised by the Sports Quarter." Blues' proposals include a new 60,000-seater stadium, sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, community pitches as well as leisure, commercial and residential development. Work at the section three site, from Park Street to New Canal Street (Curzon Street Station), cannot begin until 2026 when HS2 hands over the area to Midland Metro. However, transport bosses hope to start the main construction work on section four, New Canal Street to Meriden Street, later this year, with preparatory works already under way. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. First phase of tram extension on track Report highlights 'enormous cost' of Metro expansion 'Significant step forward' for tram extension Metro's £137m extension delayed by HS2 Local Democracy Reporting Service West Midlands Combined Authority HS2
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Business case approved for Birmingham tram extension
A business case for the next phase of extension work to Birmingham's tram system has been approved after councillors heard the line would "unlock" the redevelopment at Birmingham City's new football Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) bosses said completing sections three and four, between Park Street and Meriden Street, was "crucial" for the Midland Metro line to reach the east of the city and Blues' £3bn Sports Quarter work is part of the Birmingham Eastside Extension project and will also provide a transport link to HS2 at Curzon Street and support regeneration in first phase was completed in August. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said the importance of the new route went beyond the benefits to Digbeth and was about how the extension could help to "unlock the full potential" of east Birmingham. "The Metro extension has to be a key part of how we drive that change," Cotton added. 'Connecting to opportunity' The WMCA board approved £107m of funding for the second phase of the project, of which West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he had fast-tracked more than £62m to enable the phase to start this year."This line is about more than transport, it's about connecting people in Birmingham and the Black Country to opportunity."It's already drawing in major investment and helping to breathe new life into this part of the city centre," he added. However, Parker said the extension had "taken too long"."The sooner we deliver it, the sooner we bring in the jobs, homes and regeneration promised by the Sports Quarter."Blues' proposals include a new 60,000-seater stadium, sports campus of training facilities, a new academy, community pitches as well as leisure, commercial and residential development. Work at the section three site, from Park Street to New Canal Street (Curzon Street Station), cannot begin until 2026 when HS2 hands over the area to Midland transport bosses hope to start the main construction work on section four, New Canal Street to Meriden Street, later this year, with preparatory works already under way. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
