End to year-long dispute ‘within sight’ after major breakthrough

The dispute flared over council plans to remove a role in its waste recycling and collection service which it insisted was necessary to make improvements and bring the service in line with other local authorities.

Unite said the move would lead to pay cuts of around £8,000 for hundreds of its members, a figure the council has always disputed.

Mr Cotton said: “After months of frustration and delay, for the first time in over 12 months, a negotiated settlement to end the bin strike is now within sight.

“This has been a challenging and complex process, but after months of hard work, on the principles and parameters of a deal, I believe a new, improved offer can be made and terms can be put in place that addresses the ballpark issues discussed at Acas, that Unite members can agree in order to end the strike once and for all.

“A deal that would be good for the workforce, represent good value for money and would not repeat the mistakes of the past and risk creating new structural equal pay liabilities.

“I want our workforce to be able to return to work and help us deliver the quality refuse and recycling services the people of this city deserve. That’s why, throughout this dispute, I have resisted those who would dismiss the striking workers instead of negotiating. I have instructed officers to move forward with negotiations so that we can bring this matter to a close.”

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No further details were given about the deal.

The breakthrough was announced just over a week before the local council elections.

Mr Cotton added: “Whilst the pre-election period prevents the council from making a final decision prior to May 7, a re-elected Labour administration under my leadership will work to get this deal approved as a matter of absolute priority.

“The council can then move forward and offer the people of Birmingham the services that they deserve.”

He continued: “I also want to re-emphasise my absolute determination to see through the agreement reached with the council’s unions last year that will deliver the pay justice that thousands of women workers were denied under previous leaderships.

“I would like to thank the people of Birmingham for their patience during this challenging time.

“It’s now clear that whilst other parties have no plan, only Labour can end this dispute and deliver a refuse service that works for everyone in Birmingham.”

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Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham welcomed today’s announcement, thanking residents in Birmingham for their “continued patience and support.”

She said: “As I have said on many occasions, the workers come first and we will always do everything in our power to ensure that our members are treated with dignity and respect. The move made today by the leader of the council is a vindication of the bin workers’ struggle for a decent deal.

“Over the last few months, there have been intense negotiations to get the blocked ‘ballpark’ deal back on the table, so that our members could vote on it.

“The reason why we are not yet at that stage is purely down to the vindictive interference of the Government backed commissioners who have attempted to block the deal again and clearly overstepped their remit.

“Their lack of both experience and industrial relations competence has been a major factor in this dispute, and their malevolent game playing has been an absolute disgrace. The commissioner model is a licence for a few unelected individuals to print money and play games.

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She continued: “They have let the workers down, the people of Birmingham down and the council down. I salute the fortitude of my members who have needlessly been forced to endure months of attacks and hardship to get us to this point.

“I thank mayor Richard Parker and Lord Brendan Barber for the important roles both have played in getting us to this point.”