Bin strike 'needs sorting by government'

Campaigner Shafaq Hussain said residents felt as though their area had been neglected by the council

A campaigner has said it is time the government intervened and found a solution to Birmingham's long running bin strike.

Shafaq Hussain has spoken out after agency staff who have been working during the all-out industrial action, which began in March, have voted to down tools themselves over claims of bullying and harassment at Birmingham City Council.

Mr Hussain, from the End Bin Strike Campaign Across Birmingham group, said he believed the move may mean the refuse department needs to be put under review.

Unite the union confirmed on Monday that 18 out of 22 agency staff who are members had voted to strike from 1 December. The council denied the union's claims about its refuse department.

"We've spent lots of public money to get these contractors in, but now they are airing out what might be some toxic culture that's been created," Mr Hussain said.

"People are not being able to work and do their duty, [and] the people of Birmingham don't get what they deserve."

'Unsustainable workload'

He said the problem has become a public health issue and people were "screaming" that they're area has been neglected.

"We think that it's about time central government intervened [to] find the solution," he added.

Hundreds of members of Unite in Birmingham have been on all-out strike for eight months, in a row over pay and jobs. And in September, non-agency staff members voted to extend the strike until March 2026.

Now, Unite claims a growing number of agency staff are refusing to cross the picket lines of the striking workers because they are facing "unsustainable workloads" amid a "bullying" workplace culture in operation at the council.

The authority previously denied the allegations and said it did not "condone any actions which are contrary to legislation and good employment practice".

But last month, footage was shared showing a manager from employment agency Job&Talent telling staff that council chiefs would ban them from jobs.

Piles of rubbish have been seen in the city, like this mound pictured in April not long after the strike began

'Dreading Christmas'

One elderly resident in Moseley told the BBC she was disappointed in the council's inability to resolve the dispute.

"I'm cross with Birmingham City Council for not getting this sorted out, I understand that we're in a deficit but, to be honest, this could have been sorted out a long time ago," she said.

A student in the city said she was "dreading" the increased build-up of waste that will happen at Christmas.

Another resident added: "Things are bad enough as they are now, so with the agency going on strike as well, the collections have been very few and far between as it is."

Mr Hussain said: "Something is seriously wrong if these agency workers are also striking.

"It's about time the city council was open and honest with the people."