Source: City of Birmingham
We currently have a service that doesn’t meet the expectations of the people of our city.
We need to address years of underperformance and bring pride back to our streets and improve the waste collection service for the benefit of everyone.
We are committed to creating a modern, sustainable and consistently reliable waste collection service. The restructure proposal enables us to fulfil our commitment to improving the waste service and comes after careful consideration.
The following sets out factual information about a number of issues in the public domain:
Is this about the WRCO role?
The WRCO role, which Unite are fighting to keep, came about as a result of a previous bin strike. No other council has this role, and if the council gave in, then we would risk creating a huge future equal pay liability.
Will workers in the former WRCO role be forced to lose money?
No worker need lose any money. All workers have been offered alternative employment at the same pay, driver training or voluntary redundancy. That offer remains open.
Has compulsory redundancy been suggested?
It is regrettable that it has come to this, the council has consistently tried to find a solution to the industrial action. We have made a very fair offer which means that no worker need lose any money. That offer remains open.
We confirm that regrettably we have informed Unite representatives that next week we will formally notify and enter a period of collective consultation regarding compulsory redundancies for those who have declined all offers on the table.
This is about securing a better waste service for the people of Birmingham. We thank staff who are working under difficult conditions and recognise the frustration of residents for which we apologise.
Have negotiations been too slow?
The council has consistently tried to find a solution to the industrial action. We have been very accommodating to Unite, offering their choice of dates, times, locations and durations of meetings. We are meeting them at their availability. In the time between meetings, we have given them information that they have requested, including information that clearly shows no worker is affected by an £8,000 pay cut. Since the start of the industrial dispute, there have been regular and ongoing meetings with Unite officers and shop stewards to seek to resolve the dispute, including two meetings under the auspices of ACAS. Unite have set aside the agreement that was reached between us at ACAS, but our offer to settle this dispute remains on the table.
What is happening at the depots?
Unfortunately, striking workers are blocking our vehicles from leaving the depots meaning we are struggling to pick up waste across the city with the fewer resources we have.
People have the right to go to work without fear of violence and intimidation, and we thank all those that have been working in these difficult circumstances.
Is the WRCO role crucial to health and safety?
The whole team is accountable for working in a safe and responsible way. None of the roles either past or present make any specific reference to there being a lead person responsible for health and safety.
The service has a dedicated Health and Safety Manager to oversee and review safe systems and practices. They ensure continuous improvement and compliance with health and safety standards.
The driver and team leader has control of the vehicle and therefore control of the way the service is delivered. Introducing the new vehicles with 360° cameras and other tech will support with safe working as well.
The new vehicles come equipped with advanced safety features, including a comprehensive camera system to improve crew visibility and operational safety while working on Birmingham’s streets. Additionally, the vehicles feature low-level access points to make ingress and egress safer and easier, reducing the risk of crew injuries and enhancing overall working conditions.
Does the service have too many agency staff?
The council would rather not have to use agency staff however to maintain a service to residents, even when there isn’t a strike, we have to. Obviously, our preferred option is to have permanent employees, which is why part of our offer to those refuse workers who are in dispute has been driving training which would lead to an alternative higher paid role in the new transformed service. This restructure is part of a much-needed transformation of the service that would also reduce the reliance on agency staff.
Are agency staff being used to cover strike action?
We strongly refute any suggestion that agency workers have been carrying out work normally undertaken by striking workers. We continue to deploy the same number of agency workers on days of action as it we would on any normal working days.
Is private security employed at depots?
We are providing private security at our depots. It is sad we have to do this but unfortunately security at our depots has become a serious issue and the safety of our workers and the public must be our priority, and there will clearly be a cost to the public purse.
What is happening with fly-tipping and clean-up?
Street cleaning crews are clearing sites across our city on a daily basis and will continue to do so.
Who is in charge of negotiations?
Council officers are leading the negotiations on behalf of the Managing Director.
Are workers losing £8,000 a year?
No. Claims that 150 people could lose £8,000 a year in pay are incorrect. We have made an offer that means no worker need lose any money. The reality is that the number of staff that could lose the maximum amount (just over £6,000) is 17 people, they will have pay protection for six months in line with council policy.