Deal 'within sight' to end year-long Birmingham bin strike, says council leader

Deal 'within sight' to end Birmingham bin strike19 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleVanessa Pearce,West MidlandsandKathryn Stanczyszyn,Birmingham Political ReporterMark ThomasThe long-running dispute has left residents with no recycling service An end to the bitter 14-month-long dispute by bin workers in Birmingham is "within sight", the city's Labour council leader has claimed. Unite the Union members have been taking action since January last year, with an all-out strike launched in March, leaving rubbish piled on streets and residents with no recycling service. Authority leader John Cotton said after months of "frustration and delay" he believed a new offer could now be made.Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the offer was a "vindication of the bin workers' struggle for a decent deal" but opposition parties accused the administration of a stunt ahead of next week's council elections.The dispute initially centred on the council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles, which it insisted was necessary to make improvements. The union claimed about 170 affected workers faced losing up to £8,000 a year but the council disputed those figures.Council leader John Cotton read a statement outside the Council HouseCotton said negotiations had been "challenging and complex," but an improved offer could be made, addressing issues discussed at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) last year."A deal that would be good for the workforce, represent good value for money and would not repeat the mistakes of the past and risk creating new structural equal pay liabilities."The breakthrough was announced just over a week before local elections on 7 May.The striking workers were praised by their union for getting a deal back on the table.The full details will stay confidential while they wait for the detailed offer from the city counci...