Birmingham bin workers to be balloted on strikes

Around 400 bin workers will be consulted on strike action over plans to cut wages

About 400 bin workers are being balloted over strike action in a row over pay and roles, a union has said.

The Unite union said dozens of workers could lose up to £8,000 per year under Birmingham City Council's plans.

The ballot will open on Friday and run until Wednesday 4 December.

A consultation period with unions had finished and a decision to proceed with a proposal to change to the new operating arrangements had been taken, a city council spokesman said.

Unite said the council "had refused to back down" on plans that would in effect downgrade certain members of staff by cutting their Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

It said about 150 staff performed this role.

'Dirty and dangerous'

The union added that the post brought safety expertise to an "often dirty and dangerous job", citing the example of the death of David Carpenter who was crushed to death while collecting bins in Coventry last year.

It said the city's bin workers had already accepted cuts to overtime and night-time allowances.

Residents in areas such as Northfield and Selly Park have already reported missed collections in recent weeks, which the council partly attributed to staff absences.

The council has previously said waste services were undergoing a "change programme" which included new vehicles and staffing arrangements.

The last major strike of the city's bin collectors was in 2018, when rubbish piled up on the city's streets.

'An unsettling time'

When asked whether any resulting strikes would take place over Christmas, Frank Keogh of Unite said workers would decide timings if they voted for industrial action.

“That won’t be my decision, that’ll be a decision for those members," he told BBC Radio WM on Tuesday.

Mr Keogh, a regional co-ordinating officer at Unite, added that workers were legally required to give the council notice before going on strike.

Birmingham City Council, which effectively declared itself bankrupt last September, is trying to find £300m in savings over two years.

Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said ensuring the safety of employees and residents was taken seriously.

"We are now undertaking the post-consultation steps to ensure all Birmingham City Council colleagues affected by the change in working arrangements are supported," he said.

"There are several options that are available to suit different personal circumstances, these include opting for voluntary redundancy, promotion or redeployment."

The council recognised it was an unsettling time, he added.