Fly-tipping surges during Birmingham bin strike

National World - LocalTV

Overflowing bins, rising tensions, and claims of criminal activity—Birmingham’s ongoing bin strike is affecting more than just collections. The council says rogue traders are exploiting the disruption, while the union insists workers are being unfairly treated. Here's what’s happening on the ground.

Transcript

00:00The bin strike has turned into a flashpoint for Birmingham.

00:06Piles of rubbish have built up and now concerns are growing that it's creating the perfect cover for illegal dumping.

00:14The council says rogue traders are knocking on doors offering to take people's waste for a fee,

00:20but then dumping it in alleyways, parks or on street corners.

00:24The city's warning is clear, this is fly-tipping and it's a criminal offence.

00:29Officials say they're collecting evidence and will take a zero-tolerance approach.

00:34But the strike itself is still the root of the wider issue.

00:38It started after plans to scrap a job role the union says is safe to critical.

00:43The council says that role has been absorbed elsewhere with no pay cuts and every worker offered the same grade.

00:51Talks have been stop-start since January, but with a full walkout now in place, the dispute is escalating.

00:58Things have become tense. The council says some workers are obstructing bin lorries and intimidating staff trying to work.

01:06That, they argue, is slowing collections down even more.

01:10United denies the claims, saying its members are striking peacefully and acting within the law.

01:16As the blame game continues, residents are left dealing with the fallout, overflowing bins, rising vermin and growing frustration.

01:25The council says it wants to modernise services. The union says it's defending fair pay and safe conditions.

01:32Neither side is backing down.

01:34While both parties say they want to resolve the dispute, the city's waste continues to pile up,

01:40leaving Brummies stuck in the middle with no end in sight.

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