[UK] Birmingham bin strikes will continue after workers reject offer

In the UK, Birmingham’s ongoing bin collection strikes are set to carry on after refuse workers rejected an offer from the council to halt a long-running pay dispute, MSN reports.

Rubbish has been accumulating on the streets of Birmingham, and there have been warnings of a public health emergency as hundreds of workers have been on an all-out strike for over a month.

The Government reportedly intervened in the hope of bringing an end to the deadlock and urged the Unite union to accept the deal.

In addition, the Government called in a group of office-based military planners to provide logistical support to clean up the streets.

According to local government minister Jim McMahon, more than 11,000 tonnes of waste have been collected as part of efforts to clear the rubbish backlog. 

Mr McMahon said the council had put a “fair and reasonable” offer on the table.

Unite reportedly said its members in Birmingham had voted overwhelmingly against what it described as the council’s “totally inadequate” offer, which, the union claims, still included pay cuts.

Sharon Graham - Unite general secretary - said pay would be cut by up to £8,000 under the council’s plans.

Ms Graham urged the Government to call a stakeholder meeting to address the issues and bring the strike to an end, and to urgently consider Unite’s proposal for debt restructuring at Birmingham City Council.

Birmingham Council said it was disappointed, but stated, “our door remains open” to continue discussions. Further talks were planned for April 16.

Source: MSN

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, Birmingham’s ongoing bin collection strikes are set to carry on after refuse workers rejected an offer from the council to halt a long-running pay dispute, MSN reports.

Rubbish has been accumulating on the streets of Birmingham, and there have been warnings of a public health emergency as hundreds of workers have been on an all-out strike for over a month.

The Government reportedly intervened in the hope of bringing an end to the deadlock and urged the Unite union to accept the deal.

In addition, the Government called in a group of office-based military planners to provide logistical support to clean up the streets.

According to local government minister Jim McMahon, more than 11,000 tonnes of waste have been collected as part of efforts to clear the rubbish backlog. 

Mr McMahon said the council had put a “fair and reasonable” offer on the table.

Unite reportedly said its members in Birmingham had voted overwhelmingly against what it described as the council’s “totally inadequate” offer, which, the union claims, still included pay cuts.

Sharon Graham - Unite general secretary - said pay would be cut by up to £8,000 under the council’s plans.

Ms Graham urged the Government to call a stakeholder meeting to address the issues and bring the strike to an end, and to urgently consider Unite’s proposal for debt restructuring at Birmingham City Council.

Birmingham Council said it was disappointed, but stated, “our door remains open” to continue discussions. Further talks were planned for April 16.

Source: MSN

(Quotes via original reporting)