Birmingham city council doubles agency spending during bin strikes

Unite accuses authority of trying to ‘break’ industrial action as waste dispute enters second year

Unite has accused Birmingham city council of trying to “break” the bin strikes after analysis showed the council had doubled spending on agency staff since the start of the year-long industrial action.

Birmingham’s bin workers have taken part in an all-out strike since March last year over proposed pay cuts and role changes. The dispute has left residents without a fully functioning waste collection service and has led to towering waste and overflowing bins on the streets.