Birmingham’s ongoing strikes could continue beyond next May’s local elections after workers voted “decisively” to extend their industrial action, the union warned.
The dispute is further exacerbated as agency staff, employed on a residual contract by Job & Talent, will now join Birmingham City Council’s directly employed workers on official picket lines from December 1.
An increasing number of agency staff are refusing to cross bin workers’ picket lines due to an “unsustainable” workload, Unite claimed.
The development, announced by Unite on Monday, reflects the expansion of industrial activity.
Sharon Graham, United’s general secretary, said: “This is a real escalation in the dispute with agency workers now joining the picket lines because of the appalling treatment they have been treated by Job & Talent and Birmingham Council.
“Birmingham Council is spending wealth it doesn’t have on a dispute that could easily be resolved by agreeing a fair deal for workers.
“United does what it says on the trade union – we are fully committed to fighting for the jobs, rights and conditions of all its members.
The agency and workers directly employed by Birmingham Council’s waste services have the full and complete support of the union.
Hundreds of Unite members in Birmingham have been on an all-out strike since March over a dispute over pay and jobs.
