The dispute began in January 2025 when Unite the Union refuse workers in Birmingham began industrial action over pay and role disputes.
The union claimed that the strike is due to the council’s decision to “abolish” the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role. It said it feared that 150 workers faced losing £8,000 a year alongside claims of additional cuts to their pension payments.
The strike turned into all-out industrial action on 11 March 2025.
Looking ahead, the prospects for resolution remain uncertain.
Unite holds a strike mandate until December 2025, and General Secretary Sharon Graham has warned the action could continue through Christmas and into the new year.
Ending of negotiations
On 9 July 2025, Birmingham City Council’s Leader, Councillor John Cotton, announced that the Labour-run council was “walking away” from ongoing negotiations with Unite.
He stated that the authority had “reached the absolute limit of what we can offer”, emphasising the need to proceed – for both financial sustainability and service improvement – even though the union had “rejected all offers”.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said at the time: “Yet again workers are being asked to pay the price for the incompetence of this Labour council and Labour government.
“But let me be clear, the threats won’t work. Angela Rayner and John Cotton’s shambolic mismanagement of this dispute just makes it more likely that the strikes will continue into Christmas and beyond.”
Unite contested that the council is using “fire and rehire” tactics, slashing pay with no meaningful compensation offered.
Union members voted to suspend the Labour Party membership of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, citing her handling of the dispute and perceived support for the “rogue council.”
The union has also launched a review of its long-standing financial and political ties to the Labour Party.
Contempt of Court proceedings
Meanwhile, legal pressure has escalated. On 24 July 2025, Birmingham City Council formally applied for contempt of court proceedings against Unite, accusing the union of repeatedly breaching an existing injunction.
The injunction was secured back in May 2025, designed to ensure picketing at waste depots remained lawful and did not obstruct refuse lorries.
However, the council claims that despite initial assurances, Unite members have continued to block vehicles, stand in front of lorries, and impede depot operations.
The council stated: “The injunction has ordered Unite to ensure all pickets and protests are done safely and lawfully. However nearly every day Unite representatives are blocking roads, slow walking in front of vehicles and abusing our workforce.
“We will now go to court to ensure the safety of all involved and that the terms of the injunction – which has been agreed to by Unite – is adhered to.”
Service disruptions and mounting rubbish
Service backlogs remain severe. Earlier in the year, the council declared a major incident after more than 17,000 tonnes of waste lay uncollected.
The council typically deploys around 200 vehicles over 8-hour daily shifts.
However, the council stated that currently 90 vehicles are being run per day and are being deployed later due to depots being blocked by picket lines which cause shorter working periods.
According to the BBC, the consequences have not been evenly distributed across Birmingham
Inner-city neighbourhoods such as Sparkhill, Small Heath, Ladywood and Sparkbrook have borne the brunt of the crisis, with reports of overflowing bins, fly-tipping, blocked communal areas and rat infestations.
Birmingham Council have temporarily suspended the charge for treatment of rat infestations in homes and gardens.
Residents have also reported fire hazards from waste-build up near high-rise blocks and care homes, and air quality concerns from long vehicle queues at household waste sites.
Recycling, green waste, bulky waste and food waste collection have been suspended, and residents are advised to: “Put your household waste (grey lid) bin out on your normal collection day. If it is not collected, leave it out and we will collect it as soon as we can.”
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