Bin agency workers to vote on strike action

Uncollected rubbish in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham in September

Agency refuse workers brought in to cover for a long-running strike are to be balloted for industrial action over claims of bullying and harassment.

Hundreds of members of Unite in Birmingham have been on all-out strike since March in a dispute over pay and jobs.

Unite claimed a growing number of agency staff are refusing to cross the picket lines of striking bin workers due to "unsustainable" workloads and a bullying workplace culture at the council's refuse department.

Birmingham City Council said: "The council does not condone any actions which are contrary to legislation and good employment practice."

The council spokesperson added "blacklisting will not be tolerated" and a full investigation was immediately initiated over claims of this, which "has now concluded and has found that no blacklisting has taken place".

Unite union members in the city began a full walkout seven months ago, and in September voted to extend their action until March.

The local authority has unveiled plans it said would improve waste collection services, but the proposed changes to job grades include pay cuts of up to £8,000 for some staff, according to the union.

Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "The Birmingham bin dispute just keeps getting worse because of the complete and utter mismanagement and vindictive behaviour of the council.

"Government ministers and Birmingham councillors need to step in and ensure a fair deal for all Birmingham bin workers, which is the only way strikes will come to an end."

The council said: "While we are disappointed the dispute has not been resolved as Unite has rejected all our offers, we are continuing to make regular waste collections as we prepare to implement the new and improved service.

"This is a service that has not been good enough for too long so it needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve - we cannot delay this any longer.

"Although the industrial action continues, our contingency plan is working and we are collecting household waste as scheduled."