Unite boss Sharon Graham says there is “absolutely” a chance that the ongoing strikes by bin workers in Birmingham could spread – with Sheffield and Peterborough most at risk
Strikes that have left mountains of bin bags piled up on the streets of Birmingham could spread throughout the UK, Unite’s leader has warned. More than 5,000 tonnes of rubbish remains uncollected in the city – sparking rat infestations and fears for public health.
Refuse workers rejected a council offer to halt the long-running dispute yesterday and returned to the picket line this morning. Talks between union leaders and Birmingham city council will resume tomorrow – but there are fears other cities could be hit by strikes Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said there “absolutely” could be walk-outs if other local authorities cut bin workers’ pay. The Army has been called in to help in Birmingham, with office-based military planners giving short-term logistical support. The all-out strike started on March 11, but some households have not had their bins emptied since late January.
Rats were seen scurrying between bin bags once against yesterday in the inner-city Sparkbrook area.
Birmingham City Council declared a major incident last month amid fears for public health posed by the rubbish.
A revised offer put forward by council chiefs was slammed as “totally inadequate” by Unite, whose members voted by 97% against.
Workers in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire are embroiled in similar disputes and some Unite staff in Sheffield are already on strike.
A senior union source told the Daily Telegraph that several local authorities were in similar situations to Birmingham.
They said it was “not inconceivable” that other bin workers with the GMB union could soon go on strike in Peterborough.
Asked if other bin workers could follow suit, Mrs Graham told LBC: “If other councils decide to make low-paid workers pay for bad decisions that they did not make, workers paying the price yet again, then absolutely, we all have to take action in those other areas.”
Unite’s national lead officer Onay Kasab admitted in a BBC interview that “there is the potential for strike action spreading.”
Business and trade minister Sarah Jones urged the union to accept the “good offer” on the table so Birmingham can “get back to normal”.
Bin workers staged a rally outside Birmingham city council house this morning and handed over a petition in support of the striking workers.