Birmingham strikes: When will the Birmingham bin strikes end? see all dates in full

Workers, who are members of Unite, began strike action in January over the scrapping of a waste recycling and collection officer role, which the union described as “safety-critical”.

Unite say scrapping of the waste collection and recycling officer role has impacted 150 workers with pay cuts of up to £8,000

Following weeks of disruption, plans for an all-out strike were announced last week sparking further dismay among Brummies and anger towards Labour-run Birmingham City Council.

With the strikes causing issues across the city, many residents will be wondering when they are due to end.

Strike action

There are plans for an indefinite bin strike in Birmingham to begin next Tuesday, March 11, 2025, meaning they will continue until the union has resolved the issue with Birmingham City Council.

Strike action is expected to continue over the next few days, before walking out indefinitely next week.

Unite the Union has announced that there will be an increase in strike dates. See the full list of dates:

• Thursday 6 March 2025
• Monday 10 March 2025
• Wednesday 12 March 2025
• Friday 14 March 2025
• Monday 17 March 2025
• Tuesday 18 March 2025
• Friday 21 March 2025
• Wednesday 26 March 2025
• Friday 28 March 2025
• Monday 31 March 2025
• Wednesday 2 April 2025
• Friday 4 April 2025

Why is the strike happening?

Unite says industrial action is being taken because of plans to “abolish” the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) in the waste service.

The city council previously insisted that its planned changes, included within its proposed budget for the next financial year, would improve the quality of service delivery and safety.

“Ensuring the safety of our employees and residents is taken extremely seriously,” it said.

The authority recently added: “This escalation of industrial action will mean greater disruption to residents – despite the fair and reasonable offer that the council made to Unite the Union.

“To the small number of workers whose wages are impacted ongoing by the changes to the service (of whom there are now only 40), we have already offered alternatives.”

It went on to say these include “highly valuable” LGV Driver Training for career progression and pay, and other roles in the council equivalent to their former roles.

“Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service,” the council added.

Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with BirminghamWorld’s free newsletter

Sign up today to get all of the latest news headlines from Birmingham and the West Midlands delivered straight to your inbox, with BirminghamWorld’s free newsletter

What should residents do about household and other waste?

Residents are being urged to put their household waste bin out on their normal collection day.

“If it is not collected, leave it out and we will collect it as soon as we can,” the council says. “We aim for every resident to receive one collection of their bin per week.”

It adds that the assisted collection and clinical waste collection services will be still provided.

What is being prioritised during the strike?

The council has said it is aiming for every resident to receive one collection of their bin per week.

But it adds that resources will be “stretched” and focused on housing blocks and houses of multiple occupation. Assisted collection and clinical waste collection services are also priorities.

Why is there anger over the use of temporary crews?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has taken issue with the council’s use of ‘temporary labour’ during the strike.

“The use of employment agencies to try and break the strike is disgraceful, especially by a Labour council,” he said this week.

A spokesperson for the council responded by saying: “Birmingham City Council will always operate within the laws relating to the deployment of agency labour during industrial action.”