Birmingham bins strike fears as union issues ballot update

A ballot of around 400 Birmingham binworkers has concluded but the result is being kept under wraps. The move had triggered fears of new year disruption for homes across the city.

Unite, the union who instigated the ballot, say it was not prepared to share the result because of ongoing negotiations. Talks are still taking place between the union and Birmingham City Council, a Unite spokesperson said.

As a result the outcome of the ballot, which closed last week, was not being publicised to avoid jeopardising any discussions. Waste service staff members of the union were asked if they were prepared to strike in protest at plans by the council to axe a Grade 3 waste recycling officer role, affecting around 150 people, mostly men, and many of them long serving.

READ MORE: Historic equal pay deal struck between Birmingham City Council and unions

Ahead of the ballot, Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham described the plans to axe the roles as 'abhorrent', describing the role as 'safety critical'. She said it was a role that helped ensure the safety of crews doing an 'often dangerous and dirty job'.

But critics claimed the role, introduced in the aftermath of the major bin strike of 2017, had left the council open to accusations of discrimination. They say it was a role introduced as a sop to unions to end the strike, and was an unfairly 'enhanced' upgrade for long service rather than being an equivalent to grade 3 roles elsewhere in the council.

Most of the around 150 staff performing the WRCO role have been working for Birmingham waste collection services for more than 30 years. If the role is axed and they are downgraded to regular crew, they could lose up to £8,000 a year each, claimed Unite.

We understand the council has offered some affected workers the chance to retrain as drivers or carry out equivalent graded roles elsewhere, or receive a settlement package. But shutting down the role is seen as a necessary step in the quest to ensure a new pay and gradings plan across the council eliminates any risk of inequality.

Unite regional coordinating officer Frank Keogh had previously said that bin workers were being scapegoated as the 'problem' behind equal pay claims and for a crisis 'created by politicians'. Earlier this week we reported that the council had reached an equal pay settlement with around 6,000 workers who had brought claims against them through the employment tribunal process, alleging sexual discrimination.

The deal in principle, struck with the Unison and GMB unions, is due to be ratified at an extraordinary meeting of the council's Cabinet on Tuesday. We have contacted Birmingham City Council for comment.