Union cuts Labour funding by 40% over bin strike

The union Unite has voted to cut the affiliation fee it pays to Labour by 40% over the party's actions relating to striking bin workers in Birmingham.

The union said the £580,000 decrease from its previous funding level of £1.45m was unprecedented, and revealed the anger of its members a year on from the start of all-out industrial action in the city.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on."

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "It is incredibly frustrating that the bins dispute has not yet been resolved. Unite could and should end the strikes."

Labour added that it was proud to be funded by party members, trade union members, donors and affiliates.

The dispute initially began over Birmingham City Council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer posts, and negotiations between Unite and the Labour-controlled authority have so far failed to reach a solution.

Historically, the union has been the Labour Party's biggest affiliate, but this has been cut in recent years.

It did not donate to Labour during the 2024 campaign, refusing to endorse the party's general election manifesto.

In 2020, the BBC reported the union's executive had decided to cut its affiliation sum by 10%.

Unite said it would be escalating the Birmingham bin strike because "the actions of Labour against the Birmingham bin workers will not continue to be tolerated".

When asked by the BBC what further escalation would involve, Unite was unable to give any details.

It said residents and workers suffered while the council "dither around a deal already scoped out at conciliation service Acas".

Birmingham City Council said it would start a new waste collection regime in the summer, including a reinstated recycling service, even if strike action continued.

Councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, apologised to residents for the disruption caused by the dispute and said the authority wanted to end it.

"But let us be clear, the council has made a series of offers to Unite to end the strike, but they have all been rejected," he said.

"My message to those still taking industrial action is simple: Come back to work as I want you to be part of this new and improved service. Our door remains open."

He claimed Unite were being unreasonable in demanding "significant lump sums" which were "unjustifiable".

Mahmood added every household got a weekly waste collection, with about 1,370 tonnes collected kerbside every day.

Unite added Labour's "incompetent behaviour" in Birmingham followed "a failed economic strategy, that has left our industrial base fighting for its life".

Prior to a conference next year to decide affiliation, it said it would now formally consult with members to see whether they want to remain in the Labour Party.

Labour's spokesperson said the party was delivering "the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation to address low pay, insecure work and poor working conditions, which will benefit 15 million workers".

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