Jeremy Corbyn shows support for Birmingham bin strikes during picket
The former Labour leader's come amid legal action from Birmingham City Council
Last updated 25th Jul 2025
Jeremy Corbyn has announced his support for refuse workers currently striking in Birmingham.
Bin workers across the city are continuing industrial action against Birmingham City Council after proposals saw a potential reduction in bin workers' salaries by £8,000 a year.
Following this, Birmingham City Council announced on Thursday (July 24th) that it would be pursuing legal action against the Unite Union, which represents most of the workers, for contempt of court.
At a "megapicket" across the city on Friday (July 25th), Corbyn - who has recently announced the creation of Your Party, a new political party with Zarah Sultana - said he is supporting the striking workers.
Addressing 100 workers and other protesters outside a refuse depot near Tyseley, the MP said: "It wasn't the Birmingham bin workers that spent ludicrous amounts of money on the Commonwealth Games.
"And it wasn't the bin workers who created any of the problems that Birmingham faces. They are the people that keep this city clean. I am here today to support you but also to make this point.
"Birmingham is not isolated and Birmingham is not alone - the financial issues that affect Birmingham are actually there in almost every local authority in the country, particularly in the big urban cities.
"And those problems are that they have not enough money. The Government is not spending enough money on local government."
Former Labour leader Jeremy added that should the refuse workers lose the case, other cities could face similar cuts to wages and degradation of conditions.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the council said that it had seen "persistent evidence" of a court order breach that had been agreed with the trade union.
They added: "We are taking this step to ensure the safety of our city and the safety of our workforce, including those who are on strike.
"Our injunction prevents the blocking of our refuse collection vehicles, both at our depots and on the streets. Despite writing repeatedly to Unite for several weeks to highlight what we believe to be clear breaches of the injunction, the situation has worsened."
The spokesperson went on to cite incidents such as the blockading of vehicles and road junctions, which the council says breaches the terms of the agreement.
Responding to the claims, a spokesperson for the Unite union said: "The court application is the latest distraction from the real task of resolving the ongoing dispute.
"The court papers will be subject to a careful review and the interests of Unite and our members will be fully represented at any future hearing."