Negotiations over Birmingham bin strikes set to resume between council and Unite

Talks between Birmingham City Council and Unite the Union about an ongoing dispute over the city's bin service are set to resume.

Bin workers downed tools indefinitely over two weeks ago, with rubbish piling up on the city's streets in the meantime.

The city council have been employing agency staff in the interim, but bin workers have been delaying the waste trucks leaving the depots.

Earlier this week the union claimed any chance of a breakthrough was being "hobbled" by commissioners who were drafted in to help with the council's finances.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The council's public statements about wanting to end this dispute are directly at odds with its sluggish approach to negotiations.

"The lack of clear answers during talks, and the long periods between meetings make it seem like the council can't call its own shots.

"Are the council's decision-making abilities being hobbled by unelected commissioners?

"If that's the case, the council needs to be honest with its workers and the public and tell them exactly what decisions it can and cannot make without the commissioners' permission."

Unite said the commissioners, who were brought in by the previous government, were overseeing "massively damaging budget" reductions across the city.

Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou said: "Unite stands ready to enter intensive negotiations with the council, including with the conciliation service Acas. But this dispute will not end unless the hugely damaging cuts to refuse workers' wages are reversed."

Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, Cllr Majid Mahmood (Bromford and Hodge Hill), said the authority was willing to work around the clock to resolve the dispute, having already made a "fair and reasonable" offer to affected workers.

He said: "I was brought into this role by the leader to transform a service that hasn't been meeting the expectations of residents. I am determined now more than ever to ensure that we transform and modernise the service.

"I share the frustration of residents, I understand they're fed up. I'm a born and bred Brummie. I have not had a collection for a fortnight myself but we have put contingencies in place to try to support residents during this industrial action.

"We've extended the hours of the household recycling centres so they can book a slot online and attend the centre to dispose of waste."

The cabinet member added: "My message is to Unite - please work with us. We're willing to work around the clock to resolve this.

"Working with Unite we can collectively bring about the best service to the people and communities - a service that the people of this city deserve, a service that we can all be proud of, and a service that could be the envy of other councils."

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