This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2wgpwjxyro
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
End to Birmingham bin strike in touching distance, says union | |
(33 minutes later) | |
Uncollected rubbish has piled up in Birmingham during the dispute | Uncollected rubbish has piled up in Birmingham during the dispute |
The Unite union has agreed to attend mediation talks with conciliation service Acas next week to try to settle the ongoing bin strike in Birmingham. | The Unite union has agreed to attend mediation talks with conciliation service Acas next week to try to settle the ongoing bin strike in Birmingham. |
It said talks with the city council broke up after 45 minutes on Wednesday but a deal could now be "in touching distance". | |
The all-out strike by Unite members over plans to downgrade some refuse workers, who could lose thousands of pounds a year each, started on 11 March. | |
Councillor John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council, previously said he was keen the two parties continued talking so they could bring the dispute to a close. | |
The strike, now in its seventh week, led to a major incident being declared last month amid concerns for public health and the environment. | The strike, now in its seventh week, led to a major incident being declared last month amid concerns for public health and the environment. |
Waste has been piling up in the city since hundreds of bin workers started all-out strike action as a result the dispute over pay and jobs. | Waste has been piling up in the city since hundreds of bin workers started all-out strike action as a result the dispute over pay and jobs. |
The union has now reached an agreement to continue talks with Acas on 1 and 2 May. | The union has now reached an agreement to continue talks with Acas on 1 and 2 May. |
On Tuesday, Jim McMahon, housing, communities and local government minister, said at least 26,000 tonnes of rubbish had been removed from Birmingham's streets and "regular bin collections have resumed" amid the disruption. | On Tuesday, Jim McMahon, housing, communities and local government minister, said at least 26,000 tonnes of rubbish had been removed from Birmingham's streets and "regular bin collections have resumed" amid the disruption. |
However recycling and garden waste collections, which were suspended at the beginning of the year, remain affected. | However recycling and garden waste collections, which were suspended at the beginning of the year, remain affected. |
Members of Unite began staging one-day walkouts in January after being told some workers would be downgraded and have their pay cut. | |
The action escalated on 11 March, when more than 300 workers began an all-out strike, but several hundred continued working. | |
Wagons were stopped from carrying out their rounds and only about 10% of Birmingham's regular daily bin collections were being completed. | |
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |