A vote has seen bin workers in Birmingham ‘overwhelmingly’ agree to extend strike action until spring next year, according to Unite.
The trade union Unite has revealed that the industrial action could continue past Christmas until March 2026, following unsuccessful negotiations with the council to reach a deal that would end the ongoing dispute.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has claimed Government commissioners ‘blocked a ball park deal’ proposed at the ACAS talks in May.
Ms Graham commented: ‘The recent amendment by the government to the Employment Rights Bill, that allows councils in debt to fire and rehire their workers shows what is really going on here.
‘Council workers are being lined up to pay the price for years of austerity.’ She argued there is ‘no point’ in continuing negotiations with the council.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: ‘This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and we cannot delay this any longer.
‘The council sought to be reasonable and flexible throughout this process, but Unite rejected all our offers.
‘We want to resolve this dispute but we need to press ahead with the improvement of the service.’
