The bin strike chaos plaguing Birmingham could soon be coming to towns across the UK, as the Unite union threatens to roll out walkouts in other councils following a breakdown in pay negotiations.
After rejecting the latest pay offer—one Labour’s Angela Rayner had urged them to accept—Unite is now warning that strikes could hit areas like Yorkshire, Peterborough, Sheffield, and Cambridge. The union claims many councils face similar financial pressures, and if workers see their wages slashed like in Birmingham, more action is likely, reported the Express.
A union source told The Telegraph: “If it was looking for our members anywhere like it is in Birmingham, with a quarter of wages being cut, then of course there would be a response.” They added that if councils push through more cuts, “you [could] have austerity come back in and people’s wages start to be cut again.”
The rejection of the deal is a massive setback for Labour just weeks before local elections. Conservative MP Wendy Morton slammed the decision, saying it would lead to rats “dancing in the streets” and accused Labour of losing control. “They need to get a grip, stop blaming others, and face the unions—their paymasters,” she said.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch didn’t hold back either, claiming the row shows Labour “can’t be trusted” to run councils. Meanwhile, local government minister Jim McMahon called the offer “fair and reasonable” and urged Unite to end the strikes and return to the table.
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham, hit back, accusing both the government and the Labour-led Birmingham Council of spreading misinformation. She said the bin workers were being blamed for years of poor decisions, and the real problem lies in the severe cuts they’re being asked to swallow.
“The rejection of the offer is no surprise,” she said. “These workers simply cannot afford to take pay cuts of this magnitude to pay the price for bad decision after bad decision.”
Angela Rayner had called for military assistance over the weekend, but it was later revealed the total military presence in the city is just three personnel—not exactly the army of help many expected.
As the bin bags pile up in Birmingham, fears are growing that the unrest could spill into other areas, leaving more towns dealing with uncollected rubbish and the threat of a public health crisis.
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