BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

Mediator called to settle Brum bin strike dispute

Trade union Unite has agreed to take part in talks with Birmingham City Council and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Birmingham Council House © 4kclips / Shutterstock.com

Birmingham Council House © 4kclips / Shutterstock.com

Trade union Unite has agreed to take part in talks with Birmingham City Council and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

The ACAS talks have been arranged following the latest direct discussion between the council and Unite yesterday, which proved unsuccessful in ending the stalemate.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the parties could be ‘in touching distance of a deal' but said the council was 'again guilty of saying one thing in public and another in negotiations'.

She said: ‘This flip flopping needs to be sorted prior to the ACAS negotiations next week, so the dispute can be resolved and end the uncertainty for workers and the misery for Birmingham residents.'

A council spokesperson said: ‘Negotiations are ongoing and positive. There has been agreement that there will be further discussions at the end of next week under the auspices of ACAS.'

Unite rejected a pay offer last week, insisting it would lead to pay cuts of up to £8,000, a claim disputed by the council, which said the offer was ‘fair and reasonable'.

The dispute, which began in March, has continued despite increasing concerns about public health due to rat infestations in the city.

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

EXCLUSIVE: Coventry equal pay bill could be more than £30m

By Dan Peters | 05 June 2025

Coventry City Council could face an equal pay bill of more than £30m, The MJ understands.

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

Creating a collaboration that's fit for the future

By Mariana Pexton | 03 June 2025

Mariana Pexton reports from a workshop in Leeds focused on a national strategy for creating health that is rooted in community settings and going with the gr...

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

Unions demand pay talks

By EXCLUSIVE by Dan Peters | 28 May 2025

A union boss this week called for employers to come to the negotiating table as they accused bosses of ‘fundamentally undermining’ their collective bargainin...

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

A hunger for change

By Simon Kaye | 28 May 2025

The Government’s ambitious programme of local government reform should be just a start, argues Simon Kaye.