Thousands rally in Birmingham in support of striking bin workers amid ongoing dispute with council

Thousands rallied in Birmingham on Monday to back the city’s striking bin workers as the months-long dispute with the council intensifies a citywide waste-management crisis. Protesters gathered amid mounds of litter and rotting food that have lined streets in the West Midlands since Unite union members launched a prolonged walkout over pay and job-role changes. Health officials have warned of potential health and safety risks if the stoppage continues, and Unite has warned the action could extend into next spring while the council remains in a stalemate.

Protesters, many wearing hi-vis jackets and waving flags reading 'Support the Brum Bin Workers', marched from the Unite offices to the council headquarters in Victoria Square. Smoke bombs and Oscar the Grouch masks added a theatrical element as participants chanted slogans such as 'stand up, fight back.' Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said pay cuts would jeopardize workers’ ability to meet mortgages and rent, and she declared the entire trade union movement stood in solidarity with Birmingham’s bin workers. Unite has argued that grade-four drivers faced losing up to £8,000 per year after the council removed Waste Recycling and Collection Officer roles, a claim the council has denied, saying affected workers were offered alternative roles, voluntary redundancy, or pay protection for six months.

The escalation was backed by a nearly unanimous backing from workers, with Unite saying 99.5% approved the strike move in a 72% turnout. The council has repeatedly stated that it remains at the bargaining table in a stalemate but has not met with the union for weeks. The authority has also pursued contempt-of-court proceedings against Unite for allegedly breaching a court-ordered injunction intended to prevent pickets from blocking bin lorries, though some bin lorry operators have disputed that lines have impeded operations.

City officials say the disruption is being managed through a contingency plan built around a new, fully owned fleet with modern safety features, including 360-degree cameras to protect crews and the public. They reported daily collections of roughly 1,330 tonnes of kerbside waste on average, with more than 100,000 tonnes collected over six months of action. They also noted a 22% increase in waste collected per employee and a 52% improvement in missed collections compared with pre-strike levels, arguing the plan is stabilizing services while the dispute remains unresolved. The council emphasized it wants the dispute to end and acknowledged residents’ frustration after months of disruption.

The broader backdrop includes Birmingham City Council’s bankruptcy declaration in 2023 and its ongoing efforts to recruit agency staff to cope with the shortfall in in-house crews. The dispute began in January with concerns over a potential £8,000 pay cut and the downgrading of bin-collection roles, culminating in a March strike that the union says has highlighted deeper tensions over funding, staffing, and the priorities of local government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has weighed in on the potential public-health implications if service interruptions persist, underscoring the national attention the Birmingham case has drawn. Unite has indicated the stoppage could continue if a fair and sustainable deal is not reached, even as both sides warn about long-running consequences for residents and city services.