A major new row has broken out in Birmingham's long-running refuse dispute after it was revealed that agency workers covering for striking bin crews have been offered a £600 cash incentive to work over the New Year period.
Details of the 'Christmas Attendance Allowance'
The controversial offer, described as a 'Christmas attendance allowance', is being made to temporary staff employed by the recruitment agency Job and Talent. According to an email seen by BirminghamLive, agency workers who agree to work all seven days from Monday, December 29th to Sunday, January 4th will receive the extra £600 payment on top of their standard wages.
Those who complete six out of the seven days will be paid an additional £300. The email from the agency's account director stated the hope that the financial incentive would persuade workers to 'cancel any holidays or change any plans in order to work'.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council confirmed the authority had approved the payments, which mirror a similar offer made last Christmas before industrial action began.
Union fury and equal pay concerns
The move has sparked fury from Unite, the union representing the council's own striking refuse workers. Unite has written to the council's managing director, Joanne Roney, condemning the offer.
In the letter sent on Thursday, December 18th, Unite's national lead officer Onay Kasab argued the payment effectively amounts to a bonus. He said it was 'incredible' given the council's stated position on equal pay, which it has cited as a reason for not settling the dispute with its permanent staff.
'It would now appear that the council is happy to see the same arrangements in place, but this time as an attempt to break a strike,' Kasab wrote. He warned that because the council funds the agency, there could be grounds for equal pay legal challenges, labelling the council's commitment to the principle as 'paper thin'.
Health, safety, and fairness questions raised
Beyond the equal pay argument, Unite has also raised serious health and safety concerns. The union questions the safety of asking HGV drivers to work seven consecutive shifts operating heavy refuse vehicles and loading waste.
The offer has also been branded as deeply unfair by the council's own employees, who have been on strike for months. One bin worker, Dave, said regular staff had not been offered similar extra payments for Christmas work for years.
'It's been a number of years now since regular staff were offered ANY extra money to complete any extra Xmas work,' he stated.
The revelation of the agency incentive has further strained relations, with Unite accusing the council of being prepared to spend money on temporary staff while failing to actively resolve the strike with its direct workforce. The dispute continues to leave Birmingham facing a festive rubbish backlog.
