Angela Rayner has called for an end to the “misery and disruption” caused by Birmingham’s bin strikes and urged union staff to accept a pay deal.
The deputy prime minister visited the city on Thursday along with local government minister, Jim McMahon, to meet volunteers clearing rubbish that has piled up on the streets.
Unite members walked out on 11 March in a dispute over pay and jobs, with Birmingham City Council declaring a major incident on 31 March due to public health concerns.
Residents have been complaining about “rats as big as cats” as mounds of waste have been piling up and remain uncollected.
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The two sides have been holding a series of meetings in recent days.
On Tuesday, the council said talks had been “productive” but there has not yet been a breakthrough.
Angela Rayner, who is also Communities Secretary, met council leader John Cotton in Birmingham on Thursday.
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She said her department was supporting the council in “clearing the backlog” but also called for Unite to suspend their strike and agree to the current pay deal.
“This dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks,” she said.
“There is a significantly improved offer on the table for the workers and I’m urging Unite to suspend their action and to accept that offer.”
Members of the Unite union went out on strike due to a long-running dispute over the role of waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) being removed.
The union says the move will leave around 150 members £8,000 worse off annually.
The council rejects those claims, adding that scrapping the WRCO role is in line with national practice and would improve its waste collection service.
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Why is Unite on strike?
No resolution despite ‘intensive talks’
In the meantime, while the dispute continues, residents have complained of rotting food attracting foxes, cockroaches and rats.
Joseph McHale, a rat catcher from Vergo Pest Management, said his business has seen a 60% increase in people from this city calling them for help.
By declaring a major incident, the council has been able to free up additional vehicles and crews to clear rubbish and fly-tipping from the streets.
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