UK
End ‘misery and disruption’ and accept pay deal, Angela Rayner tells striking bin workers in Birmingham
Angela Rayner has called for an end to the “misery and disruption” caused by Birmingham’s bin strikes and urged union staff to accept a pay deal.
The deputy prime minister visited the city on Thursday along with local government minister, Jim McMahon, to meet volunteers clearing rubbish that has piled up on the streets.
Unite members walked out on 11 March in a dispute over pay and jobs, with Birmingham City Council declaring a major incident on 31 March due to public health concerns.
By declaring a major incident, the council has been able to free up additional vehicles and crews to clear rubbish and fly-tipping from the streets.
Residents have been complaining about “rats as big as cats” as mounds of waste have been piling up and remain uncollected.
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What’s the impact of the bin crisis?
The two sides have been holding a series of meetings in recent days.
On Tuesday, the council said talks had been “productive” but there has not yet been a breakthrough.
Rubbish has been piling up in places like Tyseley
It’s not just the smell that’s the problem. Rotting food is attracting vermin, including rats
Angela Rayner, who is also communities secretary, met council leader John Cotton in Birmingham on Thursday.
She said her department was supporting the council in “clearing the backlog” but also called for Unite to suspend its strike and agree to the current pay deal.
Angela Rayner and local government minister Jim McMahon (back) with Birmingham’s local council leader John Cotton (right)
“This dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks,” she said.
“There is a significantly improved offer on the table for the workers and I’m urging Unite to suspend their action and to accept that offer.”
Mobile rubbish collection sites, like this one in Erdington, have been set up. Pic: PA
Local residents have been forced to travel with their rubbish to collection sites to dispose of it. Pic: PA
Members of the Unite union went out on strike due to a long-running dispute over the role of waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) being removed.
The union says the move will leave around 150 members £8,000 worse off annually.
The council rejects those claims, adding that scrapping the WRCO role is in line with national practice and would improve its waste collection service.
Unite union members picketting a depot in the Tyseley area of Birmingham earlier this month. Pic: PA
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham responded to Ms Rayner’s comments saying: “Whilst it is helpful that the government finally realised after weeks that they have a role in this dispute, the constant attacks and briefings against these low paid bin workers is frankly a disgrace.
“It is important to reiterate the truth, as opposed to the lies being peddled in an attempt to distract.
“This dispute is not about greed, or increased pay. This dispute is about workers losing up to £8,000 of their pay – which for some is almost a quarter.”
She added: “Whilst after many weeks there has now been a partial deal on pay protection for a few, it still leaves these workers worrying about how they are going to pay their mortgages and rent payments in a few months’ time.”
Read more:
Why is Unite on strike?
No resolution despite ‘intensive talks’
In the meantime, while the dispute continues, residents have complained of rotting food attracting foxes, cockroaches and rats.
Joseph McHale, a rat catcher from Vergo Pest Management, said his business has seen a 60% increase in people from this city calling them for help.
Jerold Jowo
Jerold Jowo works for Achut, a removal company which has been employed by private landlords and tenants to remove the waste.
“The bin strike has been good for us because we’ve been [making] a whole lot more,” Mr Jowo told Sky News.