Birmingham bin workers will strike again next week after failed talks with the council, causing major disruptions across the city.
The Unite union is pretty upset because the council won’t back down on pay cuts. They’re also getting rid of a role that’s been around for ages, which they say is crucial for safety. That’s got a lot of workers worried.
With no agreement in sight, the next strike is set for Tuesday, January 14. And it doesn’t stop there—there are ten more strikes planned until April unless something changes.
Zoe Mayou, a regional officer for Unite, was out with the striking workers at the Lifford Lane Depot. She mentioned that the turnout was great, with about 370 members joining in. They’re even seeing new folks signing up to support the cause.
Zoe said they’re trying to talk to the council, but it’s unclear if they’re reaching the right people. She wasn’t surprised by the strong turnout, saying the workers are committed to taking action.
Today marks the first of twelve strike days, and it’s expected to cause a lot of disruption around the city. Zoe explained that the strike is all about keeping a safety-critical role and ensuring any replacements are up to standard.
If you’re wondering about the upcoming strike dates, here’s what’s planned: January 14, 22, 30; February 7, 10, 18, 26; March 6, 14, 25; and April 2. So, it looks like Birmingham will be dealing with some bin issues for a while!
