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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/28/birmingham-refuse-collectors-strike-runs-into-second-month
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rubbish piles up in Birmingham as strike continues | Rubbish piles up in Birmingham as strike continues |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Refuse left uncollected for weeks as union claims Labour-run council’s restructuring plans threaten jobs of 120 staff | |
| Frances Perraudin | |
| Fri 28 Jul 2017 16.30 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.21 GMT | |
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| Piles of rotting waste are filling the streets of the UK’s second biggest city, as a strike by Birmingham’s refuse collectors runs into its second month. | Piles of rotting waste are filling the streets of the UK’s second biggest city, as a strike by Birmingham’s refuse collectors runs into its second month. |
| An industrial dispute between unions and Birmingham city council over proposed working conditions in its waste and refuse service has left bins uncollected for weeks. Striking refuse collectors began a series of one and two-hour stoppages on 30 June, which has resulted in a backlog of uncollected rubbish. | An industrial dispute between unions and Birmingham city council over proposed working conditions in its waste and refuse service has left bins uncollected for weeks. Striking refuse collectors began a series of one and two-hour stoppages on 30 June, which has resulted in a backlog of uncollected rubbish. |
| Refuse collectors had been walking out for two hours a day, but this has been extended by an hour a day, with industrial action set to continue until September. | Refuse collectors had been walking out for two hours a day, but this has been extended by an hour a day, with industrial action set to continue until September. |
| The Unite union claims restructuring plans threaten the jobs of more than 120 staff and that workers on £21,000 a year could face a pay cut of up to £5,000. The Labour-run local authority argues that its plans to modernise the service would save £5m a year at a time when council budgets have been cut by central government. | The Unite union claims restructuring plans threaten the jobs of more than 120 staff and that workers on £21,000 a year could face a pay cut of up to £5,000. The Labour-run local authority argues that its plans to modernise the service would save £5m a year at a time when council budgets have been cut by central government. |
| A spokesperson for the council said “positive discussions” were taking place with unions and it hoped to resolve the dispute sooner rather than later. | A spokesperson for the council said “positive discussions” were taking place with unions and it hoped to resolve the dispute sooner rather than later. |
| “This has always been about delivering reliable, efficient and value-for-money waste collection services in the city,” they said, insisting that every worker whose job was made redundant was being offered another post on at least the same salary. | “This has always been about delivering reliable, efficient and value-for-money waste collection services in the city,” they said, insisting that every worker whose job was made redundant was being offered another post on at least the same salary. |
| Howard Beckett, the assistant general secretary of Unite, said if talks failed then industrial action, already planned to run up to the middle of September, would escalate, resulting in more waste going uncollected. | Howard Beckett, the assistant general secretary of Unite, said if talks failed then industrial action, already planned to run up to the middle of September, would escalate, resulting in more waste going uncollected. |
| “I would also ask the Birmingham public to understand that strike action is a last resort for our members and places them in considerable financial hardship,” he said. “The reality is they have been left with no choice because of the regrade of their jobs and loss of income, which is simply unaffordable for our members.” | “I would also ask the Birmingham public to understand that strike action is a last resort for our members and places them in considerable financial hardship,” he said. “The reality is they have been left with no choice because of the regrade of their jobs and loss of income, which is simply unaffordable for our members.” |
| Steve McCabe, the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said his office had been inundated with complaints about missed refuse collections. “It is clear that with people having collections missed for several weeks in a row and the rubbish piling up on our streets, finding a resolution to the dispute with the council and the refuse collectors is becoming urgent,” he said. | Steve McCabe, the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said his office had been inundated with complaints about missed refuse collections. “It is clear that with people having collections missed for several weeks in a row and the rubbish piling up on our streets, finding a resolution to the dispute with the council and the refuse collectors is becoming urgent,” he said. |
| “I believe that both the council and Unite need to take a reasonable approach to the issues at hand and that more constructive talks need to take place.” | “I believe that both the council and Unite need to take a reasonable approach to the issues at hand and that more constructive talks need to take place.” |
| On Friday, the council was criticised by opposition parties when it admitted recycling was being mixed with general waste in an attempt to clear the backlog. | On Friday, the council was criticised by opposition parties when it admitted recycling was being mixed with general waste in an attempt to clear the backlog. |
| A council spokeswoman said: “Regrettably, due to these exceptional circumstances, we are having to combine waste streams, but this is very much a temporary measure.” | A council spokeswoman said: “Regrettably, due to these exceptional circumstances, we are having to combine waste streams, but this is very much a temporary measure.” |
| The authority said it had so far cleared 2,600 roads, one-third of the city. | The authority said it had so far cleared 2,600 roads, one-third of the city. |
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