Thousands rally in Birmingham in support of striking bin workers
Unite members from across the country join a mass demonstration as the long-running pay dispute and job downgrades show no immediate path to resolution, with councils reiterating regular waste collections will continue.
Thousands of people gathered in Birmingham on Saturday to support striking bin workers as Unite continues an all-out campaign that began more than six months ago over pay and plans to downgrade some job roles. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the strikes would continue with Unite's full support until a fair deal is reached for these workers.
Demonstrators, including Unite members from across the country, marched from Unite offices on Jennens Road to the council house in Victoria Square. A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said the authority was disappointed the dispute remained unresolved but would continue to make regular waste collections. The council defended its job evaluation process as fair and transparent, and said affected workers had been offered other jobs, voluntary redundancy or pay protection for six months. Talks between the sides have not taken place for weeks, leaving the dispute deadlocked. In the first weeks of the dispute, up to 17,000 tonnes of waste piled up on the streets, and a major incident was declared.
With a new fleet now fully operational, council officials said the authority was preparing to deliver a new and improved service once the dispute ends. A spokesperson added that residents' frustration is understood and patience is appreciated as the city works to restore waste collections and reassure the public that services will be stabilised when possible.
Unite members recently voted that the dispute could extend past Christmas and into spring 2026, signaling that the long-running stand-off may endure even as holiday schedules approach. No talks are currently scheduled, and there has been no immediate pathway announced to break the deadlock.
Residents have faced ongoing disruption to waste collections, and local officials have urged patience while negotiations remain at a standstill. The city’s turnaround plan hinges on a resolution that would allow the new fleet and improved service to begin operating more reliably, but union leaders insist that any agreement must meet workers’ demands over pay and the safeguarding of job roles. The standoff underscores broader tensions between municipal authorities and public-sector workers amid persistent cost pressures and job-design concerns across the country.
As the dispute continues, Birmingham residents and other observers are watching closely for any development that could reopen talks or alter the risk of prolonged disruption. Authorities say they will communicate any changes in service promptly as negotiations continue to unfold, leaving the outcome uncertain while the city remains focused on keeping essential waste collections running.
