Strike action has been resumed in Birmingham today (1 September) after the city council announced it would be issuing redundancies to some of its refuse collection workers.
This is the latest announcement in a long-running dispute between trade union Unite and Birmingham city council over proposed changes to working practices of the council’s refuse and recycling collection workers.
Refuse workers in Birmingham have resumed in Birmingham today (1 September)
Earlier this month, the two parties made progress to negotiate a settlement and Industrial action was suspended after talks under the auspices of conciliation service ACAS. (see letsrecycle.com story)
‘Provoke’
However, yesterday Unite warned that the council would ‘provoke’ the resumption of strike action, after the authority cancelled today’s cabinet meeting (Friday 1 September) and announced it would start issuing redundancy notices.
In a statement on Thursday (31 August), the council announced it was issuing redundancy notices to the Grade 3 Leading Hands in the refuse service, which was approved by Cabinet on 27 June.
The council warned that the notices would be received on Friday 1 September. However, the authority explained that more than 200 new refuse collection jobs for loaders would be created.
The statement continued: “The council wishes to continue its ongoing discussions with trades unions through ACAS in parallel with seeking alternative jobs for the Grade 3s affected by redundancy.”
Re-ballots
Commenting on the news, yesterday, Unite described the announcement as “A deeply provocative act that does a disservice to the people of Birmingham.”
“The last thing refuse workers want to do is resume industrial action and see piles of rubbish accumulating on Birmingham’s streets.”
Howard Beckett
Unite
Unite warned that refuse workers could resume their industrial action as early as today (1 September) and walk out for three hours on a daily basis at 07:00, 10:30 and 13:00.
The trade union said it would re-ballot its members meaning industrial action could extend until the New Year.
Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “It does a great disservice to the people of Birmingham and the city’s refuse workers who now face being made redundant and losing their livelihoods or pay cuts of thousands of pounds.”
“The last thing refuse workers want to do is resume industrial action and see piles of rubbish accumulating on Birmingham’s streets.”
‘disruption’
Mr Beckett continued: “Instead of embracing an agreement that would have seen compromise on all sides, the council seems content to put people on the dole and cut their wages by up to £5,000.”
Unite has called on the council to withdraw the redundancy notices and avoid the disruption of industrial action.
On Thursday the council announced it had cancelled its Cabinet meeting on 1st September and reconvened a meeting for 13 September.
Cllr John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The new waste collection system we are introducing will provide a better, more efficient service for citizens and will enable the service to be run within budget.
New jobs
“We hope that, in view of the ongoing discussions with Acas, Unite will not take their workforce back out on strike but continue in discussions with us and the other unions.”
Lisa Trickett
Birmingham city council
“We will be creating more than 200 new refuse collection jobs for loaders. These will be full-time, offering a range of benefits, including pension entitlement and sick pay and will replace expensive agency contracts which do not include these benefits.”
Cllr Lisa Trickett, Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and Environment, added: “None of the Grade 3 leading hands who are being made redundant need to lose their jobs with the council. Alternative Grade 3 posts, at the same salary in other parts of the council, are available for all those affected leading hands. No one needs to suffer a cut in their basic pay.
“We hope that, in view of the ongoing discussions with Acas, Unite will not take their workforce back out on strike but continue in discussions with us and the other unions.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
