Birmingham declares major incident amid bin worker strike, 17,000 tonnes uncollected

Birmingham City Council has declared a major incident due to an ongoing strike by sanitation workers, resulting in 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste across the city. The strike, led by the Unite union, stems from disputes over pay cuts and the elimination of key roles within the waste collection service, prompting hundreds of workers to participate in industrial action. The council has faced criticism for allegedly not addressing workers' concerns, while it claims that only a small number of employees would be affected financially. As picket lines have blocked waste collection vehicles from leaving depots, the council's contingency plan to collect waste once a week has been severely hindered. Authorities are now deploying additional resources to manage the waste crisis, as leaders express concern over public health and environmental impacts. Both sides have yet to reach an agreement, with union leaders accusing the council of prioritizing cost-cutting over fair resolutions.