Overflowing bins and rising rat infestations as Birmingham's bin strike hits 21 weeks with no resolution on offer.

Overflowing bins, rising rat infestations, and 26,000 tonnes of uncollected waste: Birmingham’s bin strike has now dragged into its 21st week with no resolution on the table.

The dispute began in March over the scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role. Unite the union claims the move amounts to a £8,000 pay cut for 170 staff. The council insists it affects only 17 workers and says it has offered retraining or redundancy.

Watch the video: Richard Gullick reports

Talks broke down last month after Unite rejected what the council called its final offer, citing lack of full pay protection. In a near-unanimous vote, 97% of Unite members backed continued industrial action, with warnings the strike could last into winter.

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The fallout is mounting. Recycling services remain suspended, pest complaints are climbing, and fly-tipping is widespread. The council estimates the strike has already cost nearly £4 million, with projections reaching £10 million if delays to waste reforms continue. Budget concerns are growing, and the strain is hitting some areas harder than others — especially Sparkhill, Small Heath, and Ladywood — while more affluent wards like Edgbaston see minimal impact.

The political stakes are also rising. Unite has suspended Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner’s union membership and threatened to pull party funding, raising tensions over Labour’s stance in the dispute.

With both sides digging in, Birmingham remains locked in one of its longest and costliest industrial stand-offs — and the rubbish keeps piling up.