The long-running Birmingham bins strike is poised to cause further disruption for residents, with the industrial action now expected to spill over into the first month of 2026. The escalation comes as protest organisers announce plans for a third large-scale 'megapicket' demonstration.
Third 'Megapicket' Planned for January
Organisers from the group Strike Map have confirmed they are preparing for 'Megapicket 3-D', scheduled to begin at 6am on January 30. This follows two previous major demonstrations which successfully disrupted waste collection services across the city.
The group stated that, following the shutdown of Lifford Lane depot in May and the closure of all five sites in Birmingham and Coventry in July, this new action will again target all depots. Strike Map says it will work alongside trade unions, campaign groups, and community organisations to mobilise supporters from across the West Midlands and the wider country.
Roots of the Dispute and Council Stance
The industrial action was triggered by a dispute between Birmingham City Council and the Unite the union over the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role. The strike has led to significant problems for households, with overflowing bins and piles of rubbish accumulating at its peak.
The Labour-run council's leadership has consistently maintained that it has made a "fair and reasonable" pay offer to address workers' concerns. After ending negotiations with Unite earlier this year, Council Leader John Cotton argued that the union's demands risked creating another equal pay liability running into hundreds of millions of pounds, which he deemed unacceptable and a threat to the council's financial recovery.
High-Profile Support and Calls for Resolution
The strike has attracted national attention and solidarity. At the second megapicket in July, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed crowds outside the Atlas Depot in Tyseley. He urged the council to secure a deal immediately and commit to genuine equal pay, emphasising that bin workers were not responsible for the council's financial troubles.
Similarly, Gawain Little from the General Federation of Trade Unions used the demonstration to call on the local authority to restart negotiations with Unite, labelling the treatment of the workers as "unacceptable".
With a third major protest now on the calendar and no resolution in sight, Birmingham residents face the prospect of continued disruption to their waste collection services as the new year begins. The standoff highlights the deep-seated issues around pay, conditions, and equal pay liabilities that continue to challenge local government services.
