Residents urge Birmingham City Council and Unite union to resolve 13-week refuse workers’ strike as public health and community frustration worsen
Public frustration over Birmingham’s 13-week bin strike erupted at a community meeting on Tuesday night, where around 150 residents gathered in Bordesley to demand immediate action from both the city council and the Unite union. With uncollected rubbish piling up across neighbourhoods and no end in sight, locals called the situation “unacceptable” and pushed for urgent mediation.
The strike, which began as on-off industrial action in January before escalating to an all-out walkout on 11 March, stems from a deadlock over pay and working conditions. Unite members have since voted to continue striking, with the union warning the dispute could drag on until December unless a breakthrough is reached.
Shafaq Hussain, founder of the grassroots group End the Bin Strike and organiser of the meeting, said residents are no longer willing to be bystanders, BBC reported.
“This dispute has gone on far too long,” BBC quoted him as saying. “The environmental and health impact is no longer tolerable. We need an end to the blame game and a solution that restores basic services.”
Calls from the public included demands for council tax reimbursements and the creation of an independent negotiating panel, following what many described as a breakdown in trust between the council and the union. There was even talk of organising a symbolic mass waste delivery to council premises to highlight the worsening situation.
Birmingham City Council maintains it has made a “fair and reasonable offer” and remains committed to resolving the dispute. However, Unite insists that the deal does not meet their members’ expectations and continues to push for a more “acceptable” settlement. Talks at the independent arbitration body Acas have so far failed to make headway.
Hussain said that council leader John Cotton had been invited to the meeting but declined to attend. “People wanted answers, but the leadership is absent,” he said. “If the commissioners overseeing the council’s finances, or the leader himself, are not directly involved in negotiations, then we’re looking at a stalemate.”
One of the key questions raised was the role of government-appointed commissioners, installed to oversee Birmingham’s financial crisis. Residents questioned whether these officials had any involvement in resolving the strike, or if they were simply managing the books while the city’s services disintegrate.
In a statement, the council acknowledged the “significant impact” of the industrial action and thanked volunteer and community-led cleanup efforts. A spokesperson defended Mr Cotton’s absence, citing legal and negotiation sensitivities. “While we recognise the frustration, it would not be appropriate for the leader to discuss the specifics of ongoing talks,” she said
Public anger over the strike has intensified in recent weeks, with overflowing bins, vermin sightings, and complaints of foul smells dominating local headlines. While some councillors have voiced support for both sides to return to the table, no new talks have been announced.
Hussain confirmed further public meetings will take place in other parts of the city. “People are angry, but they’re also ready to act. Birmingham deserves clean streets and transparent leadership.” As the rubbish continues to mount, so does public pressure. Whether it’s the council, the union, or a new third-party mediator, residents say someone must step up — or they will.
