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Birmingham refuse collectors win high court case against city council Birmingham refuse collectors win high court case against city council
(35 minutes later)
Refuse collectors fighting for jobs in the wake of a dispute which has led to piles of rubbish being left in Birmingham streets have won a high court battle. Refuse collectors fighting for jobs in following a dispute that has led to piles of rubbish being left in Birmingham streets have won a high court battle.
Union leaders wanted Mr Justice Fraser to block redundancy moves by Birmingham city council. Bosses at the Labour-controlled council opposed such a move. Union leaders wanted Mr Justice Fraser to block redundancy moves by Birmingham city council. Bosses at the Labour-controlled council opposed them.
The judge on Wednesday ruled in favour of the Unite union after analysing evidence at a two-day high court hearing in London.The judge on Wednesday ruled in favour of the Unite union after analysing evidence at a two-day high court hearing in London.
Council bosses outlined plans to make more than 100 redundancies earlier this year as part of a restructure of their waste and recycling service. Unite lawyers said council bosses wanted to remove a “leading hand” role - and change a four-day, nine-hour shift pattern to a five-day, seven-hour arrangement, the judge heard. Council bosses outlined plans to make more than 100 redundancies earlier this year as part of a restructure of their waste and recycling service. Unite lawyers said the council wanted to remove a “leading hand” role and change a four-day, nine-hour shift pattern to a five-day, seven-hour arrangement, the judge heard.
Union leaders raised health and safety concerns, saying leading hands had responsibilities that council bosses planned to reallocate to lorry drivers. The judge heard that in July staff had begun industrial action and the dispute was continuing. Union leaders raised health and safety concerns, saying leading hands had responsibilities that the council planned to reallocate to lorry drivers. The judge heard that in July staff had begun industrial action and the dispute was continuing.
Unite had also taken legal action, arguing that council bosses’ redundancy plans were unfair and in breach of employment contracts. Council bosses were contesting those claims. Unite had taken legal action arguing that the redundancy plans were unfair and in breach of employment contracts. Council bosses were contesting those claims.
Union lawyers asked the judge to grant an injunction, which would block redundancy plans pending a ruling on that underlying legal dispute.Union lawyers asked the judge to grant an injunction, which would block redundancy plans pending a ruling on that underlying legal dispute.
Several refuse collectors were at the hearing. One hailed the judge’s decision as fantastic and a massive victory. Several refuse collectors were at the hearing, with on hailing the judge’s decision as fantastic and a massive victory.
The judge said the legal dispute between the council and Unite was due to be analysed at a trial in November.The judge said the legal dispute between the council and Unite was due to be analysed at a trial in November.