For nearly 20 months, Birmingham’s bin strike has cast a long and unpleasant shadow over the city, yet throughout this summer, there has been a conspicuous silence surrounding efforts to resolve the dispute. Typically forthcoming spokespeople from both sides of the tense negotiations are now notably silent, signalling that a significant breakthrough may be imminent.
Neither the council nor the Unite union has provided any updates during the sweltering summer months, as though attempting to ignore the disruptive bin strike that continues to affect the city.
Sources reveal that this silence is necessary for legal reasons. With a resolution so close, all parties involved are cautious to avoid any missteps. Even a minor breach of confidentiality, a leaked document, or an inadvertent comment could derail progress and return the situation to square one.
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Acas, the arbitration service, is playing a central role in these discussions. Additionally, the council’s independent commissioners and external auditors, Grant Thornton, are closely monitoring developments to ensure any agreement complies with the council’s obligation to provide ‘best value’ and does not jeopardise the fragile path towards financial stability.
The impending deal is expected to closely resemble a proposal that Unite considered and ultimately rejected last summer amidst challenging negotiations. It will also be similar to the ‘ballpark deal’ previously agreed between Labour and Unite ahead of the local elections on 7 May. At that time, outgoing Labour leader John Cotton announced an agreement had been reached, a claim reinforced by Unite’s national officer Onay Kasab, who insisted the incoming administration would be compelled to finalise the deal.
That arrangement was legally costed and intended to fairly compensate bin workers – including specialists and bin driver leads – whose roles were lost following a substantial service restructure that triggered the strike in January 2025.
The summer has been difficult for everyone involved. In June, a leaked council document revealed a range of options considered by senior councillors, including the controversial suggestion to dismiss the striking bin workers without councillor approval during the May local elections' ‘power vacuum.’ Although this plan was not pursued, the mere suggestion provoked strong condemnation from Unite general secretary Sharon Graham and local politicians.
The document also suggested that the council could only commit to a deal likely to be rejected by Unite without increasing discrimination payouts, emphasising the complexity of reaching an agreement that satisfies all parties.
The council faces a difficult balancing act. It cannot sacrifice long-term stability and risk mitigation in the pursuit of a rapid end to the strike.
Beyond legal and financial considerations, the deal must be fair to the broader council workforce, past and present. This includes staff affected by job transfers, downgrades, or redundancies, to ensure no group feels unfairly treated compared to the bin workers’ settlement.
The agreement must not set a precedent that could encourage other employees to challenge ongoing job evaluation reviews, which may result in further downgrades and job losses. Moreover, the deal must also satisfy members of the GMB and Unison unions, ensuring that their members are not disadvantaged.
Staff who have continued working during the strike, including agency workers managing bin collections, are monitoring the situation closely, particularly regarding how the agreement addresses incidents of abuse faced during the dispute. Some employees involved in misconduct cases have already warned of potential issues if those implicated receive leniency.
Meanwhile, the Labour Government and Mayor Richard Parker are invested in the outcome. They are expected to want the final deal to reflect the agreement announced in April and to claim it as their achievement, rather than allowing the current Green-Liberal Democrat-Independent coalition to take credit.
Any proposed agreement must be presented to the council’s cabinet, the governing body of senior political leaders representing the minority coalition. The cabinet is scheduled to meet on 8 September, with the full council convening on 15 September. Both dates could be pivotal in progressing the deal, with the council reportedly considering additional special meetings if necessary.
Unite members will need to endorse the resolution, accepting the terms and likely agreeing to commitments related to work procedures, conduct, and future industrial relations alongside any compensation agreed.
In the meantime, the council continues advancing its new rubbish collection, recycling, and food waste services across Sutton Coldfield, Perry Barr, and north-west Birmingham as part of the first phase of its transformation programme. Success in these areas depends on all available staff being fully engaged.
The time to conclude the strike appears to be near.