Bin collections resume after agency staff picket

Collections that were suspended on Monday due to pickets have now resumed, Birmingham City Council said

Bin collections that were suspended due to pickets outside depots across Birmingham have resumed on Tuesday.

Birmingham City Council said Monday's collections were delayed by the "expected mass pickets and protests", as agency workers, claiming they have been harassed, joined the permanent refuse staff on the picket lines.

On Tuesday, the council confirmed collections would resume as vehicles had been deployed from the depots in the morning.

Industrial action started in March after members of the Unite trade union walked out in a dispute with Birmingham City Council over pay and jobs.

The agency staff from the Job&Talent recruitment agency joined the pickets in a separate dispute, with Unite saying workers had voted in favour of strike action "over bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting at the council's refuse department two weeks ago".

Information published by Unite claimed bin drivers employed by the agency had been subjected to the "bullying tactic" of having their driving "performances" publicly ranked in a league table and posted on the staff room wall at the Smithfield depot.

Last month, Unite also claimed managers had threatened agency workers with being banned from jobs or blacklisted if they refused to cross picket lines.

Unite said it estimated about 40 workers were taking part in the industrial action.

The recruitment agency said it was committed to operating in full compliance with employment laws.

Petition to end strikes launched

On Tuesday, a petition to end the bin strike was published by Strike Map, a group of trade union activists, with signatures from 115 Labour Party MPs and councillors across the country.

Strike Map co-founder Henry Fowler said: "Whether it be in opinion polls or at the ballot box the Labour Party are facing electoral oblivion in the city of Birmingham.

"Over the past eight months we have organised 'Megapickets', the largest picket lines for a generation showing the support for these workers.

"Workers, the people of Birmingham, and now a large section of Labour Politicians want to see an end to this strike."

Birmingham City Council has been approached for comment regarding the petition.