MPs call on Starmer to bring an end to bin strike

Thirty-five Labour MPs have signed a letter in support of striking Birmingham bin workers and called on the prime minister to take action to end the dispute.

Members of the Unite union have been on strike for more than a year, initially in protest over a Birmingham City Council decision to cut a waste officer role.

Talks to find agreement between them have failed and the letter said the dispute had "gone on far too long".

The letter also repeated a threat from Unite to reconsider its links with Labour if the situation was not resolved.

The dispute initially centred on the council's decision to remove waste recycling and collection officer roles.

The union claimed about 170 affected workers faced losing up to £8,000 each year under the plan, but the council disputed those figures.

The local authority said the number of staff that could lose the maximum amount, just over £6,000, was 17 and they would have pay protection for six months.

The letter from the MPs made reference to the £8,000 claim and stated: "This dispute is not about workers asking for more."

It also reminded Sir Keir Starmer: "Unite members voted for a Labour government with the cast iron guarantee of a new era of industrial relations, working hand in hand with the union movement.

"Resolving this strike is an opportunity to see this pledge in action.

"We must also acknowledge that at Unite's policy conference this past summer, delegates overwhelmingly voted to reconsider the union's link to the party unless this dispute is resolved."

The signatures included Tahir Ali, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

The letter said the government had a "direct role to play" as it is had been overseeing the running of the city council since it was effectively declared bankrupt in 2023.

The letter concluded by asking Sir Keir to meet them to discuss a possible resolution.

Their message came after dozens of Birmingham residents joined a protest on Tuesday outside the city's council house to demand both sides got back to the negotiating table.

Addressing the bins strike at a meeting on the same day, city council leader John Cotton said: "[Bringing this dispute to a close] has to be done on the basis of not reopening this council's equal pay liabilities and delivering a modern waste service.

"Those points are non-negotiable – we are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.

He said the council was "open to dialogue to find a solution".

The prime minister addressed the bin strike in the House of Commons last year and said: "In relation to the situation in Birmingham, it is completely unacceptable.

"I fully support the council in declaring a major incident to resolve the situation. We'll put in whatever additional support is needed."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.