The fight by Birmingham’s refuse collection workers has sharpened since our report earlier this week, says Pete Webster

The dispute centres on the attempt by the Labour-controlled City Council to downgrade some key workers, which would not only compromise the health and safety of crews working on busy streets but would result in a wage cut of up to £8000 per year. These workers are not on the salaries enjoyed by the council’s senior management. They are already way down the pecking order on that score. It will mean that they will be unable to pay for rent, mortgages and other essentials. Who here could afford to take a hit like that?

Adding to this employer’s offensive, the council announced on Wednesday that they intended to downgrade the drivers too, which would also lead to a similar loss of earnings. Nonetheless, reports from the daily pickets indicate that this has strengthened the strikers’ determination to stand firm. 

The council’s expenditure is also being controlled by commissioners appointed by the previous Tory government, but they have remained in place, despite Starmer’s general election victory last summer. The Army – with central government approval – have been called in to ‘help’ with the logistics organising scab collections. So this is not just a local dispute but one that is of significant national importance.

The strikers have been using the tactic of ‘slow walking’ in front of depot gates to stop scabs going out to clear the backlog of refuse. In response, the police have begun to issue section 14 restrictions under the Public Order Act. This has serious implications for every trade unionist across the country.

This dispute is of national political importance and, if defeated, it will encourage every other public and private-sector employer to launch an offensive. Conversely, a victory would boost the confidence and combativity of tens of thousands of other workers who are also facing cuts and a cost-of-living crisis.

The striker’s resolve has been boosted by Birmingham’s Unison branch announcing a trade dispute today over the process used to downgrade key staff. Unison are worried that the same flawed re-grading process will be used on them if not challenged. However, short of any wildcat actions, there is the time-consuming balloting process to go through first.

Strikers were also welcomed at the UCU strike rally on May Day as they too are facing a major offensive by their bosses. Crucially, two general secretaries – Daniel Kebede (NEU) and Steve Whelan (FBU) – are scheduled to speak. That could not have happened without the tacit approval of Unite’s top table.

The call for a mass picket next Friday is an important escalation, but much more needs to be done and will require more of the same to have a major impact. Central to this would be a city-centre rally to help galvanise support locally and especially from Birmingham’s trades council.

Local community groups, quite understandably, have been organising street clean-ups as rat-infested piles of rubbish have built up. Strikers need to reach out to explain their position and win them to supporting the fight. Some activists have suggested that the rubbish collected should be deposited on the steps of the council, the rogue employment agencies and at unsupportive MP’s surgeries.

The strikers have produced a model motion for activists to promote in their local union branches although that will be difficult in time for next Friday’s action, but this dispute is unlikely to end any time soon. Further mass pickets will be the key to victory and there will be opportunities to attend these when announced.

In the meantime, every socialist and activist should be pulling out all the stops to ensure that they and as many supporters as possible get down to the picket on 9 May in a crucial show of solidarity.