John Cotton accused of ‘saying one thing in public’ while council negotiators take a different line in talks
12:05, 16 Apr 2025Updated 12:07, 16 Apr 2025
Bin bags piled up on Charles Road, Small Heath, during the ongoing refuse collectors strike
The Unite union today called out Birmingham City Council’s leader over the all-out bin strike – saying a deal would be closer if the authority ‘put in writing what it is saying in public.’
It comes after Coun John Cotton said over the weekend that the authority had made a “fair and reasonable offer which means no-one has to lose any pay at all.”
Unite said if that were true and guarantees were put in writing in a new offer, a deal would be much closer. However, the union called for him to go if it were proven to be untrue.
READ MORE: Talks resume to end Birmingham bin strike as council chief warns axed role ‘cannot be saved’
READ MORE: City waste backlog cleared last week ‘equivalent to weight of 1,000 Orca whales’
An estimated 17,000 tonnes of waste were on the city’s streets after the all-out strike started on Tuesday, March 11 in a dispute over a plan to remove a job post on refuse collection teams.
More than 12,000 tonnes had been cleared up but there was no sign of a resolution with the council’s latest offered rejected on Monday, April 14.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, local government minister Jim McMahon and Birmingham council leader John Cotton in Birmingham on April 10
Speaking over the weekend, Coun Cotton said: “I will stress again that we have made a fair and reasonable offer that means no-one has to lose any pay at all, with alternative roles offered within the service, or indeed a promotion to work as a driver.
“We’re determined to reach an agreement but in the meantime, the clear-up continues.”
That deal was rejected by 97 per cent of city bin work members who had answered a ballot by Monday, April 14. Talks were resuming today in a fresh bid to thrash out an agreement.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “We appear to be in parallel universe. Yet again John Cotton is saying one thing in public, while his local officers are saying another in the negotiating room and in writing. If the council puts in writing what it says in public then we would likely be much closer to a deal.
“If John Cotton is being honest that no worker needs to lose income, the deal put forward by Unite should be accepted.
Unite the Union members outside the Atlas Depot in Redfern Road, Tyseley, pictured with police officers in attendance, at the start of the all-out strike
“These workers have mortgages, rent and food bills to pay. I see councillors’ expenses and council tax all go up, while wages and community services go down.
“I stand ready to meet John Cotton and indeed (deputy Prime Minister) Angela Rayner anytime over Easter. Rather than walking through rubbish with high vizzes on, let’s get this issue dealt with for workers and the community of Birmingham.
“If John Cotton’s comments prove again to be untrue today, like the previous nonsense that the dispute only affected 17 workers, maybe he should rethink his position.”
Unite said Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCOs) and drivers had been told they would lose up to £8,000 from their pay. Unite said they were “massive, unacceptable pay cuts.”
Coun Cotton also said WRCO workers moving “sideways” would not lose pay – but Unite said that had not been guaranteed long term by the council.
Bin bags left on the corner of St Margaret’s Avenue and St Margaret’s Road in Alum Rock during the Birmingham bin workers strike(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Unite said in a statement: “Indeed, the job roles people are being asked to move to are likely to be downgraded in the coming months. More Birmingham council smoke and mirrors. If what John Cotton says is true, why was it not in the offer?
“Additionally, the guarantee of no loss of pay for the hundreds of drivers was not put in the last offer. Unite and the drivers on strike had been told during talks their pay is likely to be reduced from £40,000 to £32,000. A clear loss of £8,000.
“For WRCO workers who do not wish to make a sideways move, the council are saying in public that they will get a one-off payment of £16,000 which would cover two years loss of £8,000 in pay cuts. Again, if this is true this needs to be put in writing.
“And we repeat again. There are no equal pay issues with anything being proposed here.”