Zarah ChoudharyStriking Birmingham bin workers will protest outside of Birmingham City Council House on Wednesday (12th February) over pay cuts.
The protests will be from 9am to 11am at the Council House in Victoria Square in Birmingham.
The protest will take place as council officials begin further talks with Unite under Acas.
More than 350 refuse workers began strike action in January over the scrapping of the safety critical Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, resulting in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers.
The workers, who already voluntarily accepted cuts to pay and terms and conditions to assist the council after it effectively declared bankruptcy, were concerned about further reductions of wages and jobs.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “It is appalling that while Birmingham council inflicts huge and unjustified pay cuts on its refuse workers, councillors hand themselves a hefty pay rise. You couldn’t make it up.
“The council’s actions have only strengthened our members’ resolve to stop the brutal attacks on their wages.
“Birmingham’s bin workers did not create the council’s financial crisis and they should not have to pay for it.”
Last week, Birmingham council voted to increase councillor allowances by 5.7%, more than double the current CPI inflation rate of 2.5%.
Onay Kasab, lead national officer at Unite, said: “Birmingham’s refuse workers won’t be scapegoats for a mess made by politicians.
“Our members know axing the WRCO role is just the beginning—paving the way for more assaults on pay, conditions, and job security.”
A spokesperson from the Birmingham City Council said: “We are disappointed that this action is taking place, but we are continuing to work through the dispute resolution procedure.
“We would like to assure residents that we will do all we can to minimise disruption during any potential industrial action.
“We thank residents for their understanding and patience during this challenging period and assure everyone that we are committed to resolving the situation in the best interest of all parties involved.
“Up-to-date information will be provided via our website, social media and encourage residents to sign up to bin collection newsletter.
“Ensuring the safety of our employees and residents is taken extremely seriously, and health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“We have undertaken steps to ensure Birmingham City Council colleagues affected by the change in working arrangements are supported.
“There are several options that are available to suit different personal circumstances, and of the 170 affected employees, over 130 have already opted for redeployment, driver training or voluntary redundancy.
“We have moved quickly to minimise this period of uncertainty for everyone.
“We are committed to working with our colleagues across the service for the best outcome so that we deliver a consistent and reliable service that Birmingham residents deserve.”
