00:00The long-running binge strike in Birmingham, now in its 10th month, shows no sign of ending
00:06with public services, residents and civic leaders all feeling the strain.
00:11Refuse collectors represented by Unite the Union have been on strike since March 2025
00:17over proposed cuts to pay and changes to job roles.
00:21The city's streets have seen uncollected rubbish pile up at times,
00:25leading the council to declare a major incident and bring in extra resources
00:30to clear tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish.
00:35Well, here's what the people of Birmingham had to say on the binge strike.
00:39Well, it's affected me because what I think is,
00:43because you can't put the normal stuff in the recycling bin,
00:46so therefore you've got to put the recycling stuff in the normal bin,
00:51therefore that's going to take up space.
00:53But sometimes I have noticed in the road people have been fly-tipping
00:59because I've seen a microwave mirror.
01:04I've seen things along the road in different streets.
01:07It's not really been a bother like other people, fat to suffer.
01:11Are you still getting your recycling collected, anything green collected?
01:15Err, basically yes, yeah.
01:20It's only other parts that I feel that are suffering, you know.
01:27The images of rubbish pile up have been seen around the world.
01:30Do you think this strike is damaging to the city's reputation?
01:33In a way, yes, but here again, it's a political problem, I feel.
01:43We even have to pay to go to the refuge collection place now as well, yeah.
01:47And who fault do you think this strike is?
01:50Labour's.
01:51And what should be done about it?
01:52Get rid. Get rid of Labour, yeah.
01:55You want a new local government?
01:56Oh, new local government, yeah, definitely.
01:57The dispute, of course, revolves around the council's decision
02:01to remove the waste, recycling and collection officer grade.
02:06A post, Unite, says protected pay and safety standards.
02:11In response, Birmingham City Council says it's engaged in extensive consultation
02:15and has offered alternative roles, training and voluntary redundancy packages
02:21for those affected.
02:22The authority says the role is not used by other councils
02:25and that retaining it exposes the council to costly equal pay liabilities.
02:32Well, for now, the standoff continues.
02:34Unite maintains it will fight for what it says is a fair settlement for its members.
02:39And Birmingham City Council insists it must balance workforce terms
02:43with service delivery and legal obligations,
02:46with residents still living with the fallout of months of industrial action.
02:51The question remains, how will this dispute be finally resolved?
02:54And what will it mean for the city's essential services?
