Birmingham’s all-out bin strike continues today, Friday April 25, but fresh hope has arrived with the involvement of mediation body ACAS from next weekA pile of bin bags in Kitchener Road, Selly Park in Birmingham on Thursday, April 24 - shortly before they were cleared by refuse workersA pile of bin bags in Kitchener Road, Selly Park in Birmingham on Thursday, April 24 – shortly before they were cleared by refuse workers(Image: Alexander Brock)

Birmingham’s all-out bin strike continues today, Friday April 25, but fresh hope has arrived with the involvement of mediation body ACAS.

The independent public body ACAS the (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) will be involved in negotiations next week – bringing fresh hope of a resolution to the city’s seven-week all out bin strike.

There is currently deadlock between bin workers, Unite the Union and the city council but it is hoped that brand new talks from next week might bring an end to city-wide uncertainty.

READ MORE: I visited Birmingham street where bins strike misery continues despite city’s clean-up

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Negotiation talks between Unite, Birmingham City Council and Acas will take place next week.

Birmingham bin workers who are members of Unite, began strike action in January over the scrapping of a waste recycling and collection officer role, which the union described as “safety-critical”.

The walkout then escalated into all-out industrial action on March 11, and there has been no resolution since.

However since Wednesday, both sides have been using terms like “good faith” and “positive negotiations” ahead of next week’s conciliation talks – prompting fresh hope of an end to industrial action.

Update after talks ended without deal on Wednesday

Talks between Unite and Birmingham City Council have been full of ups and downs, with the latest meeting between the two breaking down on Wednesday April 23.

The council’s last offer was rejected by members following a ballot, which ended on Monday, April 14.

On Wednesday, Unite suggested a deal was within “touching distance” but accused Birmingham City Council of saying one thing in public and another in the negotiations.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham urged the council to stop “flip flopping” ahead of Acas talks next week.

After talks ended on Wednesday, the council said negotiations had been “ongoing and are positive.”

Is there still rubbish?

Positive progress has been made and, according to a government minister, around 26,000 tonnes of excess waste has now been cleared.

However some Birmingham residents are still being forced to endure living just metres away from heaps of rubbish despite the clean-up of the city.

You can read what Selly Park residents had to say about heaps of rubbish and an eye-watering stench greeting them each morning in our report from Thursday, here.

A heap of rubbish bags in Selly Park, Birmingham before they were cleared by refuse workers on Thursday, April 24A heap of rubbish bags in Selly Park, Birmingham before they were cleared by refuse workers on Thursday, April 24(Image: Alexander Brock)Latest from Unite and Birmingham City Council

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “The council has dragged its feet, Unite has put forward clear proposals to solve the dispute that are in line with the council’s needs.

“We will enter Acas talks in good faith, on the understanding the council will make good on its promise not to let workers lose pay.’

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Negotiations are ongoing and are positive. There has been agreement that there will be further discussions at the end of next week under the auspices of ACAS.”