Birmingham bin dispute may last weeks as talks break down

Birmingham faces strike action by refuse workers through the rest of the winter after the relationship between the trade unions and council bosses sank to a new low.

The GMB union said it was preparing for a long-running battle similar to a dispute between its members and the council in Leeds in 2009 – which lasted for 11 weeks.

And Unite said that the relationship between refuse workers and the local authority had “completely broken down” after the council banned officials from taking time off work for union duties.

Unite official Steve Foster said officials had been forced to withdraw from talks with council managers.

With rubbish already piling up in city streets, four trade unions have announced plans to walk out for half a day on both January 13 and 14 as part of a long-running dispute over pay cuts.

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