Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton is facing local elections on May 7 after more than a year of bin strikes in the UK's second city.

13:33, Fri, Mar 20, 2026 Updated: 13:38, Fri, Mar 20, 2026

Birmingham bin strikes

Birmingham bin strikes have been ongoing since march 2025 (Image: SWNS)

The long-suffering public of Birmingham, who have been without proper bin collections for an astonishing two years because of a council and union dispute, could see a major update soon after the local authority said it would return to talks. A waste collection war has been raging between the Labour-run council and the Unite union since March 2025, when a dispute began after councillors decided to remove certain job roles.

Unite claimed the Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCO) earmarked to be disbanded were vital for safety on routes and said around 170 workers faced losing up to £8,000 a year. The dispute spread to bin lorry drivers, who the union said could have their pay slashed from £40,000 to £32,000 under the new proposals. Birmingham City Council has disputed the union figures.

In the meantime ordinary citizens in Britain's second city have seen rubbish pile up in the streets and monster rats prowl the pavements. There has been no reduction in council tax during the strike to account for lack of services, and recycling services have been cancelled for large parts of a city home to some 1.1 million people.

Cllr John Cotton

Councillor John Cotton from Birmingham City Council (Image: PA)

With local elections looming on May 7, the Labour council leader John Cotton has said he wants an urgent meeting with Unite. It would be the first time in months since the council has sat down with the union, with the council previously saying it had "reached the absolute limit of what we can offer". And Government-appointed commissioners said resuming negotiations to resolve the bins strike was no longer a “viable option” for Birmingham City Council earlier this year.

But in a video posted on social media last night (Thursday) Cllr Cotton, who is said to be a friend of Sir Keir Starmer, has said Unite has to be "realistic" and continued to stress he would not undo progress made on fair pay.

He said: "We have reached out to Unite to end this stalemate. The people of Birmingham want this resolved and the workers want to go back to work. So I want to get around the table with Unite as soon as possible. But they will need to be realistic. Now 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 that 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 we will 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 round the table."

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab told the Daily Express that the union had always been ready to talk.

He said: "A ballpark deal to end the dispute was already agreed with Joanne Roney at Acas last May, but was then blocked by commissioners. Unite has always stood ready to resume those talks. If the council are now ready to do that, we welcome it and will get a date arranged as soon as possible.”

Birmingham bin strike

The strike has been ongoing since March 2025 (Image: SWNS)

This week, the leader of Unite joined striking bin workers for a rally at one of the Birmingham depots, where the union was fined for obstructing waste lorries. The union must pay £265,000 for contempt of court after "slow walking" in front of waste lorries in the city during the long-running dispute after the council was granted a High Court injunction against protestors.

At the rally at Atlas depot in Tyseley on Thursday, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "We're pushing back on one of the most vile attacks on workers we have seen in a long, long time.

The day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

"And the joke about this - it's not an attack from Rupert Murdoch, not an attack from Amazon. But an attack from a Labour council, under a Labour government. Labour should hang their heads in shame. They're an absolute disgrace."

The council is set to introduce fortnightly bin collections from June, as part of a wider service overhaul to also include food waste and different types of recycling collections.