AROUND 400 refuse workers in Birmingham are considering strike action over the council’s plans to cut wages.

Unite the Union, representing the workers, says the vote comes as Birmingham City Council has refused to back down on plans to cut pay by removing the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

There are around 150 WRCOs working for the council who could lose up to £8,000 a year under the new plans to downgrade their roles, according to Unite who have called the move a “pay attack”.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Birmingham council’s plans to remove a safety critical role to attack workers’ pay are abhorrent.

“Birmingham’s refuse workers go above and beyond and are already shouldering unfair demands for a crisis they didn’t create and shouldn’t have to pay for.

“They have Unite’s total backing.”

Unite has said since the council “effectively declared itself bankrupt” in September 2023, the refuse staff they represent have worked with management “in good faith” to ensure services continue to operate despite detrimental impacts to their pay and working conditions.

They said this has included implementing route changes, accepting cuts to overtime and night-time allowances and working around problems caused by the council’s ageing and breakdown-prone fleet of bin lorries.

Unite has also said WRCOs bring “essential safety expertise to an often dirty and dangerous job”, making reference to the death of Coventry binman, David Carpenter, who was crushed to death in a lorry compactor in January 2023.

Unite regional coordinating officer Frank Keogh said: “Birmingham council is deliberately playing fast and loose with the safety of workers and the general public.

“Birmingham’s refuse workers are done being scapegoats for a crisis created by politicians.

“They’ve already sacrificed plenty to keep services running while facing relentless attacks on their jobs. Axing the WRCO role is seen as just the first step in a broader attack on their pay, terms, and conditions.”

Speaking about the allegations made by Unite and the potential strikes, Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport at Birmingham City Council, said: "The consultation period with our recognised unions has come to an end and a decision has been taken to proceed with the proposal to change to the new operating arrangements.

“Ensuring the safety of our employees and residents is taken extremely seriously, and health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.

"We are now undertaking the post-consultation steps to ensure all Birmingham City Council colleagues affected by the change in working arrangements are supported.

“There are several options that are available to suit different personal circumstances, these include opting for voluntary redundancy, promotion or redeployment.

“We recognise that this is an unsettling time, and we have moved quickly, to minimise this period of uncertainty for everyone.

"We are committed to working with our colleagues across the service for the best outcome so that we deliver a consistent and reliable service that Birmingham residents deserve."

The ballot for strike action opens this Friday, November 22, and closes on December 4.