Birmingham Local Conservatives have cautiously welcomed the announcement of a potential partial deal between Unite and Birmingham City Council to suspend the ongoing bin strike, which has left our streets overwhelmed with 21,000 tonnes of rubbish and rats, creating a public health emergency, and caused significant disruption to residents.
However, while this development could offer some temporary relief, we have serious concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding this agreement and how long any deal will last. The potential risks it poses to taxpayers, particularly in light of the council’s history with equal pay liabilities, if it does not finally resolve Equal Pay could be terminal for Birmingham City Council.
Birmingham City Council has already amassed a potential liability of over £760m in equal pay claims up to 31 March, due to Labour’s mishandling of the 2017 strike, a burden that contributed to the council’s effective bankruptcy in 2023. Any deal involving pay protection must be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure it does not create new equal pay risks that could further jeopardise the council’s finances. Taxpayers deserve full transparency on the details of this agreement, including how pay protection will be implemented and what measures are in place to prevent future liabilities. The Labour-run council’s track record on financial management gives us little confidence, and we cannot allow another costly mistake to be swept under the carpet.
Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of the Opposition said
"the scenes of rubbish and rats piling up on streets have been totally unacceptable and caused huge public health risks, so a potential deal will offer hope to residents, but the Council must not under any circumstances allow potential equal pay risks past, current or future to remain or worse be created as part of any latest deal".
Robert added
"The immediate priority must be to clear the streets of Birmingham, which have become a public health hazard with reports of rats and other vermin amidst the rubbish piles. Residents have endured weeks of misery, and while this partial deal is a step in the right direction, it must be followed by swift action to restore cleanliness and safety to our communities. A temporary suspension of the strike is not enough. Birmingham needs a modern, sustainable, and reliable weekly waste collection service for residents, which does expose taxpayers to further equal pay risk".
This is Birmingham Labours 3rd bin strike in 8 years and any deal made has to finally draw an end to Labour's equal pay crisis.
Cllr Ewan Mackey said
"We also hope this partial deal is not a cynical attempt by the Labour administration to prop up the national party’s image ahead of local elections happening elsewhere. The reputational damage caused by this bin strike, alongside other mismanagement issues in Birmingham, has already tarnished the Labour Party reputation. Residents will not be fooled by short-term fixes designed to paper over deeper systemic failures for political gain".
Ewan added
"Birmingham Local Conservatives call on the Labour Council and Unite to reach a lasting resolution and end Labour's Equal Pay Crisis. We will continue to hold the Labour administration accountable to deliver for the people of Birmingham and to safeguard the city’s financial stability".
