by New Worker correspondent

The strike by the city’s bin workers is continuing unabated in the face of the bankrupt Labour council’s obstinacy. Indeed, the bitter dispute has even had the honour of having a Wikipedia page devoted to it.

In mid-April workers belonging to Unite rejected as “totally inadequate” a pay offer that was in fact an £8,000 annual pay cut for many of them because it involves the abolition of the important safety role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO).

This will directly affect about 160 of the 400 striking workers, but the ending of these safety critical posts will mean less job progression for others. The dispute has already seen the involvement of the Army, who have provided back-room military planners to provide logistical
support for the Council. But no troops have been deployed to clear the mounting rubbish.

Earlier this month a ballot resulted in 97 per cent of the workers voting in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout, which means the action could possibly continue until December.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham deplored that fact that: “After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week.”

This however, had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. The Commissioners put in place by the Tories still rule the roost, not that the Labour councillors were much better.

On Monday Graham addressed a rally in support of these and other striking workers outside the Houses of Parliament in London as part of the ‘Fair Funding Now for Local Government’ campaign. She deplored the fact that as a result of years of austerity local authorities are in crisis and that in contrast to the wages cuts, “politicians’ expenses at the same council go up by five per cent”, and under a Labour government too.

She warned that: “If you are a hostile employer, expect Unite to come for you, no matter the
colour of your rosette. Unite will not stand by and watch workers be treated in this way.
“Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. Unite calls on the decision makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.”

At the same rally, Birmingham strike leader Mike Masters said: “Nin workers have been
accused of “holding the city to ransom but we are just fighting for our rights and we won’t give
in.”

Rather than settle the dispute the council has spent around a million pounds on policing the
strike. To say nothing of security and overtime payments for the scab crews from agencies.

Tuesday, the 100th day of the strike, saw lively scenes in Birmingham City Council chamber when a meeting was halted due to disruption from the public galleries when someone rudely
asked if John Cotton, Leader of the Council, would take an £8,000 pay cut. After two further
interruptions the Lord Mayor adjourned the meeting.