Birmingham bin strikes look set to continue as a row over job roles enters its second week. Monday, January 13, commence the second week of industrial action from Birmingham City Council bin workers.
More than 300 Unite members who work as refuse collectors in Birmingham are set to walk out again this Tuesday, January 14, in a dispute over pay and working conditions. It will be the second day of industrial action after the first walk out on January 6.
BirminghamLive met striking bin workers at the Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton last Monday, where a large crowd gathered with Unite flags as passing motorists sounded their horns. You can read more from those early-morning picket line scenes, here.
We explain below what the strikes are about and if you can expect your bin to be collected.
READ MORE: Month-by-month list of Birmingham bin collection changes in 2025
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Have there been bin strikes in Birmingham before?
Yes, the was a three-month walkout back in 2017 and another dispute in 2019. During those disputes in 2017 and 2019, streets were covered in waste and piles of black bin bags and Birmingham was described as a “big skip.”
Unite Regional officer Zoe Mayou with striking workers at the Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton
(Image: Birmingham Live)
What are the bin strikes about?
Around 350 workers and Unite members voted for the industrial action in December over what the union described as an attack on pay and working conditions by Birmingham City Council.
They key issue, Unite claim, is over the removal of the waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) role, which the union said was vital for the safety of workers and the public. The union claimed the decision to cut the WRCO position affects 150 workers who face losing £8,000 a year.
Union bosses add that many of the affected workers have decades of service at the council. In its most recent statement, the council insisted it took safety “extremely seriously.”
What has the council said?
BirminghamLive approached Birmingham City Council for an update on the strikes on January 12. Council chiefs previously insisted they are “continuing to work through the dispute resolution procedure.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We are disappointed this action is taking place, but we are continuing to work through the dispute resolution procedure. We would like to assure residents that we will do all we can to minimise disruption during any potential industrial action.
“We thank residents for their understanding and patience during this challenging period and assure everyone that we are committed to resolving the situation in the best interest of all parties involved. Up-to-date information will be provided via our website, social media and encourage residents to sign up to bin collection newsletter.
“Ensuring the safety of our employees and residents is taken extremely seriously, and health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. We have undertaken steps to ensure Birmingham City Council colleagues affected by the change in working arrangements are supported. There are several options that are available to suit different personal circumstances, and of the 170 affected employees, over 130 have already opted for redeployment, driver training or voluntary redundancy.
“We have moved quickly to minimise this period of uncertainty for everyone. We are committed to working with our colleagues across the service for the best outcome so that we deliver a consistent and reliable service that Birmingham residents deserve.”
Bin men on the picket line at Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton on January 6
Will my bins get collected?
There are 11 more strike days set to take place from January until April, unless an agreement is reached between Unite and the council. If your collection days do not fall on a strike day, then your bins should be taken away as normal.
However if your bins are normally collected on the days listed as strike days, your waste will not be collected.
Following the first strike day on January 6, the next 11 strike dates are:
January 14, 22, 30
February 7, 10,18, 26
March 6, 14, 25
April 2
What has the union said?
Regional Unite boss Zoe Mayou told BirminghamLive: “It’s about the removal of a role we believe is safety critical, a review of making sure a role that replaces it is correctly done.”
She added: “I would like to reassure the public that a lot of people here live in Birmingham, they are affected too. We don’t want to be here the council has made us come here, we do strike action as a last resort.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is not prepared to see its workers face a huge pay cut, nor will it allow the council to recklessly cut safety critical roles which risks the safety of workers and the general public.
“Unite is totally focussed on protecting the pay and safety of its members and will leave no stone unturned in resolving this dispute.”
In separate news to the strikes, Birmingham City Council is carrying out a transformation of its waste collection services as part of cost-cutting measures and changes will come into effect this year. For a month-by-month list of when each Birmingham ward can expect to see changes to their bin collections, read our full story here.