William Eichler 01 April 2025

Brum council declares ‘major incident’ amid bin strikes

Brum council declares ‘major incident’ amid bin strikes image
Image: paul rushton / Shutterstock.com.

Birmingham City Council has declared a major incident to address the impact of the long-running bin strikes in a move branded by Unite as ‘disgraceful strike breaking’.

Declaring a major incident will enable the council to carry out street cleansing and fly-tip removal by using an additional 35 vehicles and crews around the city.

Cllr John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council, said the move was ‘regrettable’ but added that the lack of waste services was ‘causing harm and distress’.

A statement from the trade union Unite accused the council of strike breaking and of wasting taxpayers’ money on agency workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Birmingham council could easily resolve this dispute but instead it seems hellbent on imposing its plan of demotions and pay cuts at all costs. If that involves spending far more than it would cost to resolve the strike fairly, they don’t seem to care.’

The ongoing industrial dispute relates to the loss of the role of waste recycling and collection officer that Unite argues would mean 50 staff could lose up to £8,000 a year.

Birmingham City Council says the current offer on the table would mean ‘no worker need lose any money.’

Last week, the council said it would begin a consultation on compulsory redundancies – a move Unite condemned as an attempt to ‘intimidate’ workers.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Social Worker - Adults Emergency Duty/Approved Mental Health Professional

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£46,206 - £55,992
Senior Social Worker / Approved Mental ... Twickenham, Greater London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Care & Support Worker

West Northamptonshire Council
£13.52ph
36 hours per week (12 hours day shifts). Operating on a 4 week rolling rota. The current rota for this position does not include any weekend working. The team will provide quality care for our people, specialising in rehabilitation/reablement and sub-acu Northampton
Recuriter: West Northamptonshire Council

Graduate Trainee Emergency Planning and Resilience Consultant

Essex County Council
£27055.00 - £31829.00 per annum
Are you a Graduate, looking to become part of a crucial, efficient and high achieving team? England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Finance Officer- Transactional Services

Essex County Council
£34121.00 - £40142.00 per annum
Senior Finance Officer- Transactional ServicesFixed Term, Full Time£34,121 up to £40,142 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 - £35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / Grade 11 - £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
Applications are invited for a Social Worker within the Durham and Chester le Street Locality Team, temporary until 30 September 2026 subject to the r Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner