The union said the renewed mandate demonstrates that members “remain committed” to continuing strike action until a resolution is reached in the long-running dispute with Birmingham City Council.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham commented: “Our members are more determined than ever to achieve a fair settlement, and they have Unite’s unwavering support.
“The council needs to get back around the table now because strikes will not end until we have a fair deal for Birmingham’s bin workers.”
According to Unite, the dispute centres on the council’s decision to fire and rehire both loaders (formerly waste recycling and collection officers, WRCOs) and drivers onto new contracts that the union says include a reduction in pay.
‘Hard to understand why the strike is continuing’
Responding to the vote, Councillor Majid Mahmood said the extension of strike action was “disappointing” and “immensely frustrating for the residents of Birmingham”.
He added: “We have invited Unite on multiple occasions to make a proposal to end the strike, which we would fully and carefully consider, but they have declined to do so thus far. They have also rejected our fair and reasonable offers.
“All of the 170 former WRCOs were successfully redeployed or elected to take voluntary redundancy.
“Of the 144 driver team leaders (DTLs), the majority have agreed to accept the new role with the standard six months’ pay protection, with others taking voluntary redundancy or alternative roles within the service.
“Given this, it is hard to understand why the strike is continuing.
“Despite this, we are driving forward our service improvements, set to start rolling out in June whether or not the industrial action continues.
“My message to those still taking action is simple: come back to work, I want you to be part of this new, improved service.”
Ongoing dispute over pay and role cuts
Unite’s members, who include hundreds of the city’s refuse workers, began industrial action in January 2025 over ongoing disagreements with the council regarding pay and working conditions.
The industrial action escalated into all-out strikes on 11 March 2025, with refuse collections heavily affected across the city.
Birmingham City Council has said it remains committed to transforming its refuse service and resolving the dispute.
The dispute went to court in London on 16 October 2025 over claims that the union breached an injunction related to the city’s waste services.
Agency workers also joined the industrial action in November 2025, broadening participation in the strike.
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