Refuse workers have begun the first of 12 days of strike action in Birmingham as part of a dispute over job role changes.
Over 350 workers voted to strike last month, which involves 12 days of action planned across four months.
Unite the Union said the dispute is over Birmingham City Council’s decision to “downgrade” Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles.
On average, Unite said staff performing the “safety-critical” WRCO role will lose around £8,000 a year under the plans.
The industrial action will affect anyone who has their waste collected by the council on the planned strike days.
Unite said talks broke down in December last year after the council said it would not delay the planned changes to the WRCO role.
The strikes began on Monday with further action planned for:
January
- 14
- 22
- 30
February
- 7
- 10
- 18
- 26
March
- 6
- 14
- 25
April
- 2
An overtime ban had also been in place since 2 January, which could cause disruption on days when there is no strike action planned.
Unite said a work-to-rule is also in place, which means workers adhere to official start and finish times and return to the work site for their 15-minute break and 30-minute lunch period.
In a statement on its website, Birmingham City Council said it will do all it can to minimise disruption during the bin strikes but said it expects a level of disruption while this action takes place.
The council advised residents to put their bins out as usual on normal collection days, and if they’re not collected on the day, to leave them out, promising to collect them as soon as possible.
Commenting on the action, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is not prepared to see its workers face a huge pay cut, nor will it allow the council to recklessly cut safety critical roles which risks the safety of workers and the general public.
“Unite is totally focussed on protecting the pay and safety of its members and will leave no stone unturned in resolving this dispute.”
