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In Birmingham, refuse workers have decisively rejected a proposed agreement that aimed to conclude an ongoing strike, resulting in an accumulation of waste on the streets and a surge in rat populations in the area.
The strike, which has been in effect since March 11, has seen negotiations between Birmingham City Council and the Unite union, representing the workers, stall for several months. This prolonged industrial action has left many streets littered with uncollected rubbish.
On Monday, a ballot was held among workers regarding a “partial deal” concerning pay protections, specifically for a limited number of individuals, as explained by Unite’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham.
According to the union, the workers overwhelmingly voted against this deal, which they labeled as “totally inadequate,” as it continued to propose significant pay reductions. Additionally, the offer did not address the concerns of around 200 drivers who might face salary cuts.
Graham remarked: “The rejection of the offer is no surprise as these workers simply cannot afford to take pay cuts of this magnitude to pay the price for bad decision after bad decision.”
She urged the government to step in to facilitate discussions among all parties involved to resolve the strike, highlighting the need for immediate consideration of Unite’s proposal aimed at restructuring debt within the council and other local authorities.
“Unite has outlined straightforward and reasonable steps to the council to address these concerns. It’s crucial to note that this dispute isn’t about seeking a pay increase; rather, it’s about safeguarding against severe pay reductions,” she added.
In a related development, the government announced on the same day the deployment of military personnel equipped with “operational planning expertise” to assist the council in managing the rubbish clearance.
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, clarified: “There are no boots on the ground. We’ve deployed a couple of army logistics personnel to help with the logistical operation of picking up the rubbish.”
She expressed satisfaction regarding the progress in waste clearance, stating, “We’ve managed to clear over two-thirds of the rubbish from the streets […] Given that it’s the Easter holidays, it’s essential to get this rubbish cleared.”
Earlier in March, the Labour-led Birmingham City Council had declared a major incident due to the accumulation of 17,000 tonnes of rubbish uncollected, attributing the delay largely to the striking workers obstructing bin lorries at picket lines.
The council has reported significant progress, claiming that approximately 1,500 tonnes of waste are now being cleared each day with about 100 to 120 refuse collection vehicles actively working, focusing on the 15 worst-affected areas.
The crux of the dispute arises from the council’s decision to eliminate a specific role within the waste service, which, according to the union, could lead to pay reductions of up to £8,000 annually for certain workers.
In contrast, the council has disputed this figure, asserting that only 17 individuals would be directly impacted. They also noted that all affected workers were offered alternative positions at the same pay scale in other sectors of the council, along with opportunities for driver training.
John Cotton, the leader of the city council, reiterated, “I stress that we have made a fair and reasonable offer, ensuring that no one has to endure any pay loss at all, with alternative roles provided or even promotions available to become a driver.”
He concluded by stating, “We’re committed to reaching an agreement, while the clean-up operations continue in the meantime.”
Source
www.theguardian.com