The long-running bin strike in Birmingham has taken a dramatic new turn, as the very agency staff hired to replace striking workers have now voted to take industrial action themselves.
Agency Staff Join the Picket Line
The first day of this fresh wave of action began today, Monday 1st December 2025, with a rally organised by the Unite union at the Smithfield depot in the city. The union reports that the numbers joining the strike are "growing daily", a claim countered by Birmingham City Council, which insists only "a small number" of agency staff are participating.
These replacement workers, recruited through the Job&Talent agency, stated they voted in favour of striking two weeks ago. Their grievances centre on allegations of bullying and harassment, as well as fears of blacklisting within the council's refuse department.
Union Condemns Council's "Appalling Treatment"
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, issued a strong condemnation of the local authority. "Birmingham council will only resolve this dispute when it stops the appalling treatment of its workforce," she said.
Graham emphasised the unified front, noting: "Agency workers have now joined with directly-employed staff to stand up against the massive injustices done to them." She urged the council to cease wasting public money on a fight it could settle fairly and return to negotiations.
"Instead of wasting millions more of council taxpayers' money fighting a dispute it could settle justly for a fraction of the cost, the council needs to return to talks with Unite and put forward a fair deal for all bin workers," Graham asserted. "Strikes will not end until it does."
Council Denies Allegations as Dispute Drags On
In response, Birmingham City Council expressed disappointment that Unite had rejected all its offers. A council spokesperson stated: "We are continuing to make regular waste collections and our contingency plan is working."
The council also directly refuted the union's claims. Following an investigation, it said it found no evidence that blacklisting had occurred and strongly denied the allegations of bullying, labelling them "unfounded".
This bitter dispute, which began in January of this year, now looks set to continue well into the future, with Unite warning it could extend beyond May next year. The involvement of the replacement agency staff marks a significant escalation in the ongoing industrial action that has left rubbish piled high in parts of the city.
