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ITV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Hundreds of union members join huge picket line in support of Birmingham bin workers
As the Birmingham bin strikes are about to enter their ninth week, people from unions across the country have joined striking workers at a 'megapicket' outside a recycling centre in the city. Around 200 people gathered in Ebury Road, in Kings Norton, to hear speeches from supporting union leaders. The NEU, the teachers' union, Daniel Kebede, describe the all-out strike by members of Unite, which began almost two months ago, as a fight against 'a race to the bottom' on working people's wages. Unions from the train drivers' union ASLEF, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the NEU were among the 20 groups that either attended or endorsed the picket. Members of Unite in Birmingham walked out on March 11 in protest of the council's decision to cut a post from the city's refuse and recycling service. The union says this will lead to hundreds of its members having their pay cut by up to £ 8,000 a year. The council disputes the figures, saying only 17 workers will be affected, losing far less than Unite is claiming. Birmingham City Council declared a major incident relating to the strike by Unite members on March 31 after estimating that around 17,000 tonnes of waste was uncollected. William Jordan is a striking lorry driver for Birmingham's refuse service. He said, "To be fair, I want to go back to work. It's making an impact on all our lives. But, if needs must I'll stay out. "If it takes a year, I'll be out here to the very end. "A pay cut could mean, in the long run, with the cost of living going up, with the cost of living crisis, and Birmingham City Council again increasing the council tax this year. "An impact of losing money is like possibly not being able to pay bills." "Firefighters across the UK have got their backs." Steve Wright, general secretary of the FBU, commented on why his union is backing the striking workers. "I've taken strike action, I've been a firefighter who's withdrawn my labour on a couple of occasions, and the support from other workers is massive. "Look, no one wants to take strike action. They're defending their livelihoods. "They're having their wages cut by nearly a third, and the way they're being treated is disgraceful. "So we want to make sure they know that firefighters from across the UK, from our Union, have got their backs." When ITV News Central Reporter Lois Swinnerton asked Unite's national organiser Onay Kasab if, now that the streets of Birmingham were looking cleaner, the striking workers have lost some of their leverage in negotiations, he said: "I don't think we should forget that the clean-up operation is costing a huge amount to the council. "So it's not something that can be sustained. I don't think it weakens our position in any way. "But I think the most important thing is that I don't think the council should be spending extra money on having to clean up the streets. "Let's get to a negotiated agreement." "The support for the Birmingham Bin Strike is rock solid." Henry Fowler, co-founder of Strike Map, who organised the picket, said: 'This mobilisation is historic. The support for the Birmingham Bin Strike is rock solid on and off the picket line, victory to the workers!'. Pete Randle, Unite organiser, said: 'Today's message is collective organisation across trade union movement shows the power unions have.' In response to today's picket, Birmingham City Council said: "Everyone has a right to protest, which we respect, but people also have a right to work unhindered. "We would ask that all involved remember their responsibilities and show respect for colleagues who choose to work, as well as nearby residents." Birmingham City Council also issued advice to residents affected by the disruption caused by the 'megapicket'.'Due to a protest outside Lifford Lane there have been disruptions to today's collections,' a council spokesperson said. 'Please leave your bin out and we will aim to collect it on Saturday or as soon as possible.'They added: 'We were aware of the planned protest, the safety of everyone involved was always our priority.'We therefore revised operational deployment plans to reflect this overarching principle.' The council has insisted in the past that a 'fair and reasonable offer' has been made, with council leader John Cotton adding it 'cannot and will not entertain anything that would re-open an equal pay liability'. However, recent news that waste truck drivers in Birmingham could see their jobs downgraded and their pay cut by thousands of pounds a year has resulted in further the drivers, a spokesperson for the council said recently: 'This fair and transparent job evaluation process, jointly agreed with trade unions, is necessary to ensure the council complies with equal pay laws.'They continued the decision to grade drivers as 'grade 3' was 'indicative' only and subject to further collective consultation.'It is part of an ongoing process of quality assurance and moderation, and this an indicative grade which is subject to further collective consultation,' they said.'We remain committed to delivering a fair and sustainable deal for drivers and collectors and we will continue those discussions with Unite.'
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Striking Birmingham bin workers blow up giant inflatable rat at 'mega picket' blocking depot in city blighted by rodents and mountains of rubbish as industrial action rumbles on
Scores of supporters joined striking bin workers on a 'mega picket' in Birmingham today - shutting down a depot in the city. The group of around 200 let off flares and blew up a giant inflatable rat - a nod to the giant rats which are said to have invaded the country's second city as rubbish piles high. Refuse workers belonging to the Unite union have been striking since March 11 over the city council's proposed changes to roles and resulting pay cuts. On Friday, members of other unions travelled from across the country to show their support for the city's striking bin workers. Union members, who travelled on coaches from as far as Bristol and Leeds, arrived at the Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton to stand in solidarity. They shut down the depot and recycling centre, one of the three main Birmingham City Council depots, leading to delays in collections. The 'mega picket' was organised by Strike Map, a group of trade union activists who created a digital map to show where industrial action is taking place. The group of around 200 let off flares and blew up a giant inflatable rat at the rally - a nod to the giant rats which are said to have invaded the country's second city as rubbish piles high. Henry Fowler, from the group, said it was a 'fantastic turnout' with workers from a number of unions, including the train drivers' union Aslef and the Fire Brigades Union, turning up. Protestors gathered from 6am, chanting and releasing flares, to show their backing for the all-out bin strike, now entering its eighth week. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent a message of solidarity. Asked if they're anticipating the bins strike continuing into summer, Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou said: 'If that's what we need to do unfortunately - that's unfortunate for our members and residents. 'It's down to the council to come with a proper offer and be transparent.' Birmingham's striking bin workers also received backing from the National Education Union (NEU). NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede told protestors the strike by members of Unite was a fight against 'a race to the bottom' on working people's wages. Mr Kebede, who represents around half a million teachers and support staff, told the picket line: 'We bring our solidarity to this picket because the Birmingham bin strike is a strike of national importance. 'If a Labour council - a Labour council - can get away with cutting the wages of these workers, then a Labour government can get away with attacks on the rest of us.' Claiming that the Labour Government was 'lining up attacks' on education and would be the first Labour government since the 1970s to do so, Mr Kebede said: 'We are standing here with the bin men and bin workers today because it could be us tomorrow. 'This solidarity... is showing what we can do when we unite across our sectors and across our industries. 'Without the people here, not a single cog would turn. It wasn't the councillors who were sat in city hall who were making the difference during the pandemic.' To loud applause from protestors, Mr Kebede went on: 'It was the refuse workers keeping the streets clean. It was the teachers who kept education going, it was the doctors and the nurses. 'So let's stand together as working people and say that we absolutely refuse to endure a race to the bottom. 'Let's push back against this austerity government and ensure that our society can flourish.' Train drivers' union Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, thanked trade unionists in the crowd for their their support during previous rail disputes and said he was proud to be with them. Mr Whelan said: 'It's to our shame that we have to stand here today in a Labour-controlled authority talking about people's wages being changed without agreement.' Turning the effects of 14 years of austerity back on workers could not be right, Mr Whelan said, adding: 'I can't articulate this dispute as well as the people involved in it - because it's their futures, it's their livings, it's their families. 'But we do know from what we have seen in the past, if we don't stand together, they will defeat us. If we don't behave as a collective, they will hurt us. 'If we don't send the messages we need to see, they believe they can turn us over. 'We will be with you today, we will come back tomorrow, we will come back another day until you win.' Kate Taylor, of the Birmingham branch of the NEU and also a national executive member of the union, told the crowd: 'This bin strike is for all of us - it's for all trade unionists. That is why so may of us are here today showing solidarity and fighting with you.' Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union and other groups also addressed the crowd, including Artin Giles of the Jeremy Corbyn-founded Peace and Justice Project. Offering both Mr Corbyn's and the project's full solidarity, Mr Giles said: 'I think we really are at a moment where people are realising that no matter if it's a red rosette or a blue rosette, the rich get richer whilst the working class gets cuts to services that we all rely on. 'And that's the case whether we talk about schools, health clinics or refuse collection.' Unite organiser Pete Randall told the picket that he believed 'victory' in the dispute was not too far away. 'It's been an absolute honour to stand here with our members,' he said. 'I remember the very first day rocking up at the top of Lifford Lane/Ebury Road. 'I have got to know the members. I can see it in their eyes. I can see how it feels for them. And that's what it's all about - understanding from a striker's perspective. 'I praise every single worker that is out on the picket lines. This is what a union looks like.' Speaking from the picket line, Derek Roberts, a bin lorry driver who has worked for the service for more than 30 years, said he was ' humbled and very grateful' to see the amount of people who had decided to join forces with his fellow Unite members. He told the BBC: 'Knowing they've had to get up first thing in the morning and travel to support us has been fantastic.' The council said it would try to collect bins missed as a result of the action over the weekend. Resident Ste Gill expressed his anger online. He said: 'Another week of us not getting our bins empty. Another week of fighting off the rats. Also another week of me trying to a get a slot at Lifford Lane. 'To take my rubbish which I already pay for with the rising council tax. Getting ridiculous now. My patience is wearing thin.' Members of the union have been on all-out strike for weeks over plans to cut the role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officers - leading to rubbish piling up on the streets. Hopes of an agreement were dealt a blow when last month, around 200 bin wagon drivers were told their jobs were being downgraded as part of an equal pay-related review and evaluation exercise by Birmingham City Council. Unite said that under the council's plans, the pay rate of drivers will reduce from £40,000 to £32,000, a pay cut of £8,000. The council - which effectively declared itself bankrupt in 2023 - has been blamed for mishandling an equal pay dispute. It has so far paid out almost £1.1 billion after losing a landmark case in 2012 launched after it gave bonuses to refuse collectors and street cleaners but not to cleaners and caterers - roles typically held by women. It still has to find more money to settle further claims but insists its debt is 'unrelated to the need to modernise the waste service and to eliminate any future equal pay risk'.
