Union boss admits to fresh 'talks' with council over Birmingham bin strike

The union boss leading Birmingham’s striking bin workers has admitted holding fresh “talks” with the council after the authority walked out of negotiations last summer.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite the Union, made the comments to ITV News Central while joining workers on a picket line on Thursday morning.

Birmingham City Council has not addressed the nature of the talks, but council leader John Cotton told ITV News Central: “Yes, we have reached out to Unite to end this stalemate. The people of Birmingham want this resolved and the workers want to return to work, so I want to get round the table with Unite as soon as possible, but they need to be realistic."

Sharon Graham said discussions had taken place with “a number of people”, including “some people at the council”, but would not confirm whether the talks were formal.

“As you would imagine, talks have been going on,” she said.

“My conversations have been with a number of people inside the council and outside.

She continued: “These are talks about the fact that we need to get the deal back on the table.”

The long-running dispute has seen refuse workers take industrial action in a row over changes to job roles and reductions in pay.

Graham said a previous ‘ballpark deal’ had been discussed with the council but was never formally put forward.

“We scoped out a deal that the council said they thought was a good deal,” she said.

“We said that we could put that deal to our members. The council left the room and then said the commissioners blocked the deal."

She insisted the agreement should still be honoured.

Graham added there was now “a real clear understanding” among those she had spoken to that the deal should be reconsidered.

“There’s a clear understanding from a number of people,” she said, declining to give further details of discussions with government or other groups.

“I’m not going to talk and rehearse what I’m speaking to government about or what I'm speaking to other groups about because it would be wrong.”

She reiterated that any agreement would ultimately be decided by union members.

“Deals go to members — members vote on deals,” she said.

Last week, the council’s cabinet member for environment, Majid Mahmood, refused to say when the authority last spoke with Unite.

He said: “I don't directly deal with negotiations, that's a question for council officers.”

Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said: “I've been clear throughout that I've wanted a negotiated settlement to end the dispute. The only way we'll do this is if Unite get back round the table and acknowledge the constraints that the council must work within: we cannot undo the progress made on fair pay and grading for all workers, and we must transform the way this service works.

“So, my message to the waste workforce is simple. We want you to join us in delivering a new, better service for the people of Birmingham. I know the last year has been tough for you, but the only way that we get through this will be for your union to agree a deal.

“We've offered pay protection, new roles and training opportunities. I'm clear that we don't want people to lose their jobs and that's why I want us to get back around the table.”

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