Refuse workers in Birmingham have rejected a deal aimed at ending a weeks-long strike that has resulted in piles of uncollected rubbish in the streets, according to union officials.
The vote occurred as military logistics teams were deployed to help alleviate a crisis that has now persisted for six weeks.
The Unite union stated that its members in Birmingham overwhelmingly voted against what they termed a “wholly inadequate” proposal.
“The rejection of the offer comes as no surprise since these workers cannot afford to incur such significant pay cuts to compensate for a series of poor decisions,” said Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.
Hundreds of workers initiated the strike on 11 March, with Unite noting that some employees could potentially lose £8,000 (€9,200) annually due to a proposed reorganization of the refuse service.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner reported that two-thirds of the rubbish collected on the streets has now been cleared.
She mentioned that military personnel were assisting Birmingham City Council with logistics to remove as much waste as possible, but clarified that there were “no boots on the ground.”
The buildup of trash left to decompose during an unusually warm spring has raised public health alarms, as residents have observed bags being ripped apart by rats, cats, and foxes.
Workers are collecting uncollected bin bags from local residents to load into dustbins and refuse trucks at a temporary waste collection site in Birmingham.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson stated that the “purely office-based military personnel” were involved in “coordinating the local response with local authorities, providing additional vehicles and crews, and opening household waste centers for Birmingham residents.”
“We are now urging Unite to halt its action and accept the proposal currently on the table,” the spokesperson added.
More than 100 vehicles departed from depots on Monday morning, with 12,500 tonnes of waste cleared since 4 April, they noted.
