Zarah ChoudharyIndustrial action by more than 350 Birmingham refuse workers will escalate into an indefinite ‘all out’ strike from 11th March, 2025.
Trade union Unite announced that the workers are being balloted to extend strike action through the spring and summer.
The ballot concerns the council’s use of temporary labour during industrial action.
The workers began strike action in January over the scrapping of waste collection and recycling officer role, which the union argued resulted in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers.
The workforce is fearful that further attacks to jobs and wages will follow, including the blocking of a fair path for future pay progression, said Unite.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “The use of employment agencies to try and break the strike is disgraceful, especially by a Labour council.
“But let me be clear – our members will not back down from the brutal attacks launched on them and neither will Unite.
“Our members undertake a vital frontline role in keeping Birmingham clean, it is totally unacceptable that their pay has been slashed and they have been left fearful of further attacks on their jobs, pay and conditions.
“Unite is giving our members its steadfast support throughout this dispute.”
The workers are taking strike action on 26th and 27th February and 3rd, 4th, 6th and 10th March and will begin indefinite strike action on 11th March.
Unite warned Birmingham council and its employment agency Job&Talent that it is unlawful to provide labour to replace striking workers.
The union called on Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, which is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to take action and stamp out illegality.
The new industrial action ballot closes on 10th March.
The ballot would extend their industrial action mandate into the summer months.
Zoe Mayou, regional officer at Unite, said: “The commissioners and the council talk a good game about service reform.
“But from the ground all Birmingham refuse workers see is slashed wages, an increasing reliance on expensive agencies, more and more broken-down lorries and a service that is getting worse and worse.
“This dispute will not end until our members are given cast iron guarantees about where the service is headed and how they will be treated within it.”
A spokesperson from Birmingham City Council said: “This escalation of industrial action will mean greater disruption to residents – despite the fair and reasonable offer that the council made to Unite the Union.
“To the small number of workers whose wages are impacted ongoing by the changes to the service (of whom there are now only 40) we have already offered alternatives, including highly valuable LGV Driver Training for career progression and pay, and other roles in the council equivalent to their former roles.
“No worker will lose the sums Unite are claiming.
“Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service.
“Our door is still open, and we would encourage Unite to come back to the table.
“We thank residents for their continued understanding and patience so far and will continue to provide up-to-date information about our plans during the industrial action.”
