Marvin OnumonuBirmingham bin workers have rejected the council’s latest offer, which they deemed insufficient as it did not protect them from significant pay cuts.
Hundreds of workers, members of Unite, voted against the deal.
Additionally, the offer also failed to address potential pay reductions for 200 drivers.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “For weeks, these workers have faced attacks from government and their employer pushing the lie that only a handful of workers are affected by the council’s plans to cut pay by up to £8,000.
“Instead of peddling untruths about these low paid workers and focusing on winning a media war, the government should have taken the time to check facts and used its office to bring the council to the table in a meaningful way.
“The rejection of the offer is no surprise as these workers simply cannot afford to take pay cuts of this magnitude to pay the price for bad decision after bad decision.”
Graham added: “From the start, the council has constantly moved the goalposts for these workers, prolonging the strikes in the process.
“First it was equal pay, then it was about improving the waste service, then cost cutting. The list goes on.
“Unite has set out simple and reasonable steps to the council to resolve these issues.
“It is important to remember that this dispute is not about a pay rise it is about preventing serious pay cuts.”
She said: “The government must now call a meeting with the stakeholders to ensure these steps are taken to bring the strike to an end.
“The government must now also urgently consider Unite’s proposal for debt restructure at Birmingham City Council and other local authorities. Workers and communities cannot continue to pay the price.”
A spokesperson from the Birmingham City Council said: “It is incredibly disappointing, that despite several weeks of extensive negotiations, Unite have rejected a second offer of settlement. However, our door remains open.
“The Council must deliver improved waste services for our citizens – who simply deserve better.
“We must also guard against future equal pay claims, and while we have sought throughout the negotiations to protect pay for individuals, Unite’s proposals focus solely on retaining a role that does not exist in other council’s and represents an equal pay risk for Birmingham.
“We have made a fair and reasonable offer and every employee affected by the removal of the WRCO role could take an equivalent graded role in the council, LGV Driver training or voluntary redundancy packages.”
