Birmingham’s bin strikes began today, with workers rallying for better pay and conditions amid a chilly morning.
Birmingham: This morning kicked off the bin strikes in Birmingham, and it was quite a sight! Pictures from the picket line showed workers rallying at the Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton around 7am.
The atmosphere was electric, with cheers ringing out as folks braved the cold, chanting ‘Unite, unite, we stand and we fight’. As the morning rush hour hit, cars honked in support of the large crowd gathered on the main road.
Over 300 members of the Unite union, who collect refuse in Birmingham, started their strike today. This is just the first of 12 days of action. Back in December, around 350 members voted for this strike due to what they called an attack on their pay and working conditions by the city council.
Zoe Mayou, a regional officer for Unite, explained that the strike is about a safety-critical role being removed. They want to ensure that any replacement role is properly handled.
She was talking about the waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) position, which the union believes is crucial for both worker and public safety. The union claims that cutting this role could mean a loss of £8,000 a year for about 150 workers.
In response, the council stated that they take safety very seriously and are working through the dispute resolution process. If you want to know more, you can check out Birmingham City Council’s latest updates.
Don’t forget to check out our photo story below to see how the first day of this industrial action unfolded!
