Birmingham bin strike deal offer raises hopes - what happens now - Birmingham Live

NewsBirmingham bin strike deal offer raises hopes - what happens nowBreaking news as Birmingham City Council has made a written offer to striking bin workers which they hope will end the

damaging bin strike - what happens next?birminghammailBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByJane HaynesPolitics & People Editor13:51, 2 JUN 2025Updated15:56, 2 JUN 2025BookmarkSupporting bin workers

back the strike - pictured outside Lifford Lane depot, Monday June 2 (Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)Get the latest Birmingham Live breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Birmingham City Council has made a written offer to striking bin workers that union chiefs say is a step in the right direction after weeks of agony for their workers and Brummies.

But it could be days, even weeks, before a deal is done, they warned today. Unite the union, which represents most of the council's waste service staff, has described the council's

offer as 'watered down' from what it has said it intended to offer during negotiating meetings.

They say that's because of the input of commissioners, currently overseeing council affairs under government orders - a claim denied by the council.

More negotiations will be taking place before a formal offer is put to members that could mark the beginning of the end of the troubling dispute.

READ MORE: Birmingham bin strike latest as union says pay cut put 'mortgages, rent and livelihoods at risk'

Union and council representatives are in fresh talks today, Monday June 2, and for the first time a written offer is on the table, say union insiders.

"We have been waiting since January for the council to put in writing what it has been saying in public," said a union spokesperson, referring to regular reference by government and council

officials to a 'fair and reasonable offer'.

But they say the offer currently in hand is unlikely to find favour with bin workers, with some facing a pay downgrade of up to £8,000 a year.

In response, a council spokesperson said: “The council has made an updated fair and reasonable offer to Unite via ACAS, which we are asking them to share with their members for consideration

with a view to bringing the ongoing industrial action to an end.

“We are hopeful that talks between ourselves and Unite will continue...we remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement to end this dispute.”

In the meantime, striking bin workers were out in force this morning, despite a High Court injunction.

READ MORE: Seven rules Birmingham bin strike workers must obey or risk contempt of court

A High Court ruling restricts the number of designated pickets to six at each depot in strictly marked areas, and they must not obstruct vehicles driving in and out.

At Lifford Lane depot in Kings Norton, around 40 supporters and bin workers were stood and sat peacefully some distance from the entrance gates, some holding union banners and flags. The

council said it was able to deploy all its available trucks safely this morning.

Bin workers had rallied outside Birmingham Council House on Friday to demonstrate their anger with politicians who they say have 'ran scared' and left it to officials to negotiate

'in their name'. They held up banners proclaiming that anyone sick of the rubbish piling up should contact leader Councillor John Cotton.

outside Birmingham Council House on Friday in protest

His face and name have also adorned billboards put up across the city, funded by Unite, as part of its campaign. Cllr Cotton has not taken part directly in negotiations. As well as being

council leader, he is also a member of Unite.

While the council and union consider their next move, this is what happens next:

members. Formal negotiations between the council and the union will continue 'behind closed doors' this week, hosted by Acas, the arbitration service. This includes reviewing the

proposal. The union will write to the council with its response to the tabled offer, likely by Wednesday this week. Negotiations continue in the meantime. Following negotiations, the union

is likely to put the council offer, possibly amended, to its members. A formal ballot will follow with members voting to take further industrial action, or not. A 'no strike' vote

would end the saga, now in its 11th week.

In a statement at the weekend, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is is important to remind people what the dispute is about: bin workers in Birmingham waking up one morning and

being told their pay would be cut by up to £8,000. For some that's up to a quarter of their pay, putting their mortgages, rents and livelihoods at risk.

“The government and the leader of the council have been attacking these workers for weeks for defending themselves and their families by striking, while briefing the public that these

workers should accept an offer on the table that never existed."

for picketing came into force via a High Court injunction (Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)

She said she believed the offer was only tabled after being 'allowed' by Government appointed commissioners who are overseeing council affairs after its de facto bankruptcy and

multiple failures. The commissioners' role includes helping the council ensure that any final deal does not include loopholes or problems that could trigger new equal pay claims in

future.

“The proposal is not in line with the ballpark offer discussed at conciliation (ACAS) and has clearly been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council, who

were not in the negotiating room.

“Numerous deadlines were missed. In fact, what was to be tabled 48 hours after the ACAS talks, arrived as a much watered-down proposal, yesterday evening, three weeks later. Unite will be

consulting with our reps over the weekend and will give a detailed response to this watered-down proposal, in advance of a reconvened ACAS meeting. The actual decision makers now need to be

in the room at the further ACAS talks.

“The treatment of these workers has been an absolute disgrace and this Labour council and Labour government should hang their heads in shame. It is little wonder many workers in Britain are

turning away from Labour when they allow workers to be treated like this.

“Unite will not allow these workers to pay the price for another crisis not of their making.”

The union is at loggerheads with the council over the decision to axe a bin truck crew role, affecting around 170 staff. The role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer was deleted in

January, and workers have been fighting since for compensation. Bin truck drivers have also since learned that their job could be downgraded, with a pay cut, as part of a wider equal pay

review.

Occasional strike days started in January, but escalated to an all out strike on March 11 this year.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.

Follow BirminghamLiveFacebookX (Twitter)CommentMore OnBirmingham City Councilbirmingham bin strike