Agency refuse workers brought in to cover for Birmingham's ongoing bin strike have voted to join industrial action themselves. These agency staff cite claims of bullying and harassment as the reason for their decision, stating they are experiencing unsustainable workloads and a toxic workplace culture within the council's refuse department.
Unite, the union representing these agency workers, also alleges that the council threatened to blacklist agency staff who refused to cross the picket lines of the striking bin workers. Birmingham City Council has denied these allegations, stating they do not condone actions contrary to legislation and good employment practice.
Hundreds of Unite members have been on strike since March in a dispute over pay and jobs. The agency workers' decision to strike from December 1st represents a significant escalation of this dispute, with the union highlighting the poor treatment of agency workers by both the contracting company and the council.
