575 words, 3 minutes read time.
Solidarity is proud to stand with the Birmingham refuse workers, who are taking all-out strike action against disgraceful pay cuts and job threats. These are not minor changes — some of these key workers stand to lose as much as £8,000 a year. That’s nearly a quarter of their wages. And for what? To balance the books after years of mismanagement, while those at the top carry on unaffected.
Now we’re hearing calls from Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Secretary, for workers to accept what she calls an “improved” offer. Speaking during a photo-op with local volunteers tidying rubbish left by the strike, she said:
“The people of Birmingham are our first priority — this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks.
There is now a better offer on the table and I would urge Unite to suspend the action and accept the improved deal so we achieve fairness for both workers and residents of this city.”
But where is the fairness in asking workers to take a 25% hit to their pay? What’s “improved” about a deal that still leaves people struggling to pay their bills?
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, rightly challenged the hypocrisy:
“Whilst it is helpful that the government finally realised after weeks that they have a role in this dispute, the constant attacks and briefings against these low-paid bin workers is frankly a disgrace.
This dispute is not about greed, or increased pay. This dispute is about workers losing up to £8,000 of their pay — which for some is almost a quarter.
A notable point was made by one of our members, which Unite believes sums up where we are with this council and could be with others: ‘The council are saying that we should share the pain but not one councillor, including the leader, has been asked to give up a quarter of their pay.
We thought when Labour came in they would stop what was happening — we were wrong’.”
Instead of sitting down with the union and finding a just solution, the council and its allies have chosen confrontation. Strike-breakers have been brought in — untrained, non-union, and without the safety knowledge required for such work. This is a deeply irresponsible move that puts both the public and the scabs themselves at risk.
To make matters worse, the police have been deployed to monitor and intimidate lawful pickets. Why is public money being spent sending officers to watch workers standing up for their rights, rather than dealing with real threats to public safety? It’s a transparent attempt to suppress solidarity and send a message: “don’t step out of line.”
This isn’t just a Birmingham issue. It’s about the wider principle: do we allow public sector workers to be treated as disposable? Or do we fight back?
Bin workers were there during the pandemic. They worked through lockdown, often with little protection, to keep our communities clean. They didn’t ask for praise — they asked for fair pay. And this is how they’re repaid?
Solidarity condemns the use of strike-breakers and police pressure to undermine legitimate action. We stand firmly with the striking workers. Their fight is our fight — for dignity, fairness and respect at work.
If there’s any “pain to be shared,” it should start at the top. Until councillors take a 25% pay cut themselves, they’ve no business telling others to accept one.
By Maria Camara