The Birmingham bin strike has been blighting the city for months and now more Birmingham City Council bin truck drivers have joined the strike, leaving the council scrambling to get wagons out to collect rubbish.
Drivers from three depots walked out to join their colleagues on the frontline after angry drivers were told last week they were in line for potential pay and grading cuts as part of a council-wide review.
The council mentioned yesterday it had a ‘contingency plan’ and hoped to have collections back on track by the end of this week.
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The defiant workers said last week they were desperate to get back to work but could stay on strike ‘all summer’ if a deal was not struck that protected their pay.
Whose side are you on in the bin strike? Have your say
Bin strikes were sparked by Birmingham City Council’s decision to abolish the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) grade 3 role in the waste service.
The role has been linked to multiple equal pay claims against the council from grade 3 workers in other services, and scrapping it is seen as vital in efforts to avoid future claims.
Talks between the city council and the union Unite are ongoing, a spokesperson said yesterday. Whose side are you on in the bin strike? Birmingham City Council, Unite and the bin workers or neither? Let us know.
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