Birmingham bin strike chaos: council message as megapicket with giant rat shuts Lifford Lane depot

A crowd of protesters from various unions gathered at Lifford Lane depot, one of the three main council depots in the city, on Friday morning to show support for Birmingham’s striking bin workers.

The industrial action, triggered by a dispute between the council and Unite the union, left overflowing bins and enormous piles of rubbish blighting several communities across the city.

Those behind today’s demonstration soon proclaimed they had ‘shut down’ the depot before speakers addressed the crowd in front of its closed gates as a giant inflatable rat watched on.

The Birmingham areas served by the depot include Edgbaston, Longbridge, Selly Oak, Druids Heath, Kings Heath, Bournville, Harborne, Selly Park, Kings Norton, Northfield, Rubery, Quinton and Bartley Green.

Birmingham City Council said this morning that it was aware of the planned protest and that it “revised operational deployment plans” as a result.

The gates to the depot were closed and there was no attempt to get workers and trucks in or out of the site during the time spent at the protest by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

A single police car was present nearby on Lifford Lane itself.

The city council also issued advice to residents affected by the disruption caused by the ‘megapicket’.

“Due to a protest outside Lifford Lane there have been disruptions to today’s collections,” a council spokesperson said. “Please leave your bin out and we will aim to collect it on Saturday or as soon as possible.”

They added: “We were aware of the planned protest, the safety of everyone involved was always our priority.

“We therefore revised operational deployment plans to reflect this overarching principle.”

During the demonstration, Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou was asked whether they’re anticipating the bins strike dragging on into the summer.

She responded: “If that’s what we need to do unfortunately – that’s unfortunate for our members and residents.

“It’s down to the council to come with a proper offer and be open, honest and transparent.

“We don’t want to be out here any longer than we have to be.”

Shirley Perry, from the National Education Union, also urged Birmingham City Council to “put it right” regarding the bins strike dispute.

“It’s within your power,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do.

“We expect a council to pay bin workers properly.”

Adam Taylor, from the Fire Brigades Union, told the LDRS: “We know what cuts to the service feel like.

“An attack on one worker is an attack on all.”

He went on to urge Birmingham council to “get round the table and sort this out right now.”

Meanwhile Kate Taylor, from the Brum Rise Up campaign, told the crowd: “This bin strike is for all of us. It’s for all trade unionists.

“Today has to be the start of mobilising a wider movement.”

The bins strike dispute is over the council’s plans to scrap a Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, which Unite said would force “dedicated workers onto pay levels barely above the minimum wage”.

However, the council has insisted in the past that a “fair and reasonable offer” has been made, with council leader John Cotton adding it “cannot and will not entertain anything that would re-open an equal pay liability”.

But recent news that waste truck drivers in Birmingham could see their jobs downgraded and their pay cut by thousands of pounds a year has resulted in further tension.

On the drivers, a spokesperson for the council said recently: “This fair and transparent job evaluation process, jointly agreed with trade unions, is necessary to ensure the council complies with equal pay laws.”

They continued the decision to grade drivers as ‘grade 3’ was ‘indicative’ only and subject to further collective consultation.

“It is part of an ongoing process of quality assurance and moderation, and this an indicative grade which is subject to further collective consultation,” they said.

“We remain committed to delivering a fair and sustainable deal for drivers and collectors and we will continue those discussions with Unite.”