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Birmingham bin strike latest: Army experts called in to help | Birmingham bin strike latest: Army experts called in to help |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Military planners have been called in to help tackle mounting piles of rubbish in Birmingham following a month-long strike by refuse workers. | |
Thousands of tonnes of uncollected rubbish line the city's streets due to the all-out strike by Unite union members that began on 11 March. The city council has declared a major incident and asked neighbouring authorities to help tackle the crisis. | |
Now, after a government appeal to the Army, a small number of office-based planners will provide logistical support for a short time. Soldiers are not being deployed to collect rubbish. | |
Striking workers will vote on a "partial deal" to end the strike on Monday, Unite has said. | |
A government spokesperson said: "The government has already provided a number of staff to support the council with logistics and make sure the response on the ground is swift to address the associated public health risks. | A government spokesperson said: "The government has already provided a number of staff to support the council with logistics and make sure the response on the ground is swift to address the associated public health risks. |
"In light of the ongoing public health risk, a small number of office-based military personnel with operational planning expertise have been made available to Birmingham City Council to further support in this area." | "In light of the ongoing public health risk, a small number of office-based military personnel with operational planning expertise have been made available to Birmingham City Council to further support in this area." |
Why are Birmingham bin workers on strike? | Why are Birmingham bin workers on strike? |
The spokesperson added this built on a range of measures on which it had supported the council, including opening household waste centres. | The spokesperson added this built on a range of measures on which it had supported the council, including opening household waste centres. |
People have been taking refuse to centres and collection points which have seen long queues | People have been taking refuse to centres and collection points which have seen long queues |
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged striking bin workers to accept a new deal to end the dispute. | Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged striking bin workers to accept a new deal to end the dispute. |
She said a "significantly improved" offer had been made and the council had "moved significantly to meet the demands of the workers so we can see an end to this dispute". | She said a "significantly improved" offer had been made and the council had "moved significantly to meet the demands of the workers so we can see an end to this dispute". |
However, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said the deal represented "a partial deal on pay protection for a few" and the striking bin workers were "in the driving seat around what they wish to accept". | However, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said the deal represented "a partial deal on pay protection for a few" and the striking bin workers were "in the driving seat around what they wish to accept". |
At the end of March, the Labour-run city council declared a major incident, citing an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish across Birmingham over the first four weeks of the strike. | At the end of March, the Labour-run city council declared a major incident, citing an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish across Birmingham over the first four weeks of the strike. |
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |