Striking bin workers in Birmingham have overwhelmingly voted to extend industrial action until March 2026, marking one of the longest labour disputes in the city's history. The strike, which began in March last year, has left Birmingham grappling with over 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste. The workers overwhelmingly voted 99.5% in favour of extending strike action on a turnout of 72%, reports Unite the Union, who add that Birmingham City Council had already by July spent £6.5 million on agency workers and £1.3 million to the contractor Tom White Waste to undermine the strike [1].

The dispute was sparked by Birmingham City Council's decision to eliminate Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles, which Unite claims would impose pay cuts of up to £8,000 annually on 170 workers. Labelling these as cuts as "brutal", Unite writes that they would even leave some at risk of losing their homes. The union has demanded written guarantees for long-term pay protection and the reinstatement of the WRCO role, which the council has so far refused to give. Negotiations mediated by ACAS collapsed in May 2025 after the council declared it had "reached the absolute limit" of what it could offer. Unite rejected the council's "fire and rehire" tactics and accused the government-appointed commissioners running the council of sabotaging a potential deal.

"Talks brokered by the conciliation service ACAS in May and led by the council's chief executive Joanne Roney agreed a 'ball-park' deal which would have ended the dispute," writes Unite. "However, Ms Roney latterly advised that she could not get the deal past the commissioners. It is clear therefore that there is no point at this stage having further negotiations with the council. The ball is in the government's court."

Instead, the public authority at both national and regional level has plainly revealed itself to be employing nothing but police powers - the dictate of the state - wielded in favour of private interests. In July, explains Unite, "the government amended the Employment Rights Act so that councils like Birmingham could legally fire and rehire their workers."

At the same time, the conflict has intensified in the courts. In May, the High Court granted an indefinite injunction restricting picketing activities after the council alleged obstruction of bin lorries. The order limits pickets to six per depot, bans tactics like "slow walking", and threatens violators with contempt of court charges. In August, the council applied for contempt proceedings against Unite, claiming "persistent evidence" of breaches, including blockades of vehicles. Unite has called these legal actions "distractions" and pledged to challenge the injunction while complying with its terms.

"Throughout this dispute the government has denied any involvement. It is now clear that commissioners [then] reporting to Angela Rayner blocked a ball-park deal thrashed out at ACAS," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. "The recent amendment by the government to the Employment Rights Bill... shows what is really going on here. Council workers are being lined up to pay the price for years of austerity."

"There is no point at this stage negotiating further with the council as they do not have authority to resolve the dispute," she continued. "If Labour cannot see what is happening in Birmingham is wrong, it is little wonder workers are turning away from them in droves," essentially pointing to the inability of the cartel party system to resolve any issue in favour of the public interest and the rights of all. Indeed, on July 11, the union suspended then Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner for supporting the council's position.

Speaking at the TUC Congress 2025, Sharon Graham particularly condemned the government over the ongoing strike, particularly over legislation that would allow councils issuing a section 114 notice to be able to fire and rehire workers, and accused Birmingham council, backed by the government, of using Margaret Thatcher's anti-union laws to try and break the picket lines. "These workers will not be allowed to be starved back to work," she declared.

Amid discussion within Unite about potential disaffiliation from the Labour Party, Sharon Graham issued a message to the party leadership: "I say this loud and clear to Labour - any fines we get because of supposed injunctions on our picket lines and breaches, every single penny will come out of our Labour affiliation."

The workers began intermittent strike action in January and indefinite strike action in March. "Strike action will continue for as long as necessary with Unite's unyielding support," declared Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab. "Politicians' treatment of these workers, including lies about no one losing pay and broken promises about being able to retrain in driving roles that are now nowhere to be seen, is amongst the worst Unite has even seen."

With the council sticking fast to its stance of imposition, with government support, the struggle shows no signs of abating. As rubbish continues to pile up, the bin workers' struggle has become a symbol of resistance against austerity and a fight for the dignity of labour.

The strike has galvanised widespread solidarity, including "megapickets" at depots like Lifford Lane, featuring speakers from unions such as ASLEF, the FBU, and the NEU. Jeremy Corbyn also joined protests in July, underscoring the national significance of the dispute.

The way out of the crisis lies in fighting for the alternative and against the cuts. The alternative is being outlined by the bin workers speaking in their own name and providing themselves with an outlook. The bin workers' strike represents not just a struggle over wages and roles, but over fundamental questions such as who bears the cost of the crisis, the direction of the economy, the funding of social programmes, and who decides. People need control over their livelihoods and living conditions. Enough is Enough!

Notes
1. "Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike past Christmas and into spring", Unite the Union, September 2, 2025
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2025/september/birmingham-bin-workers-vote-to-extend-strike-past-christmas-and-into-spring

(Additional sources: BBC News, The Guardian, LabourList, Birmingham City Council, local reports, and previous Workers' Weekly coverage)

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