Motion text
That this House acknowledges that 6 January 2026 marks one year since the industrial dispute between Birmingham City Council and its waste management workers began; expresses concern at the continued distress and interruption that the dispute has caused for Birmingham’s 1.1 million residents and 37,000 businesses; regrets the failure of the Labour-run Government and Council administrations to secure a negotiated settlement to the dispute; further regrets that in the six months since the Government-appointed commissioners vetoed a verbal agreement reached between Unite the Union and Birmingham City Council’s Managing Director, no efforts have been taken by the Council to re-enter negotiations, despite the expressed willingness of Unite the Union to do so; notes that the Council’s proposed cuts to the pay of workers that initially triggered the dispute came within a budget that enacted cuts of £300 million, which was implemented as a result of continued financial mismanagement under the current Labour administration; acknowledges that, by March 2026, the Council is projected to have spent more than £15 million on expenses related to the dispute, which is being spent to enact unfair pay cuts that will bring insignificant savings by comparison; and urges the Government to impress the necessary influence upon the commissioners and Birmingham City Council’s leadership to re-enter negotiations with Unite the Union, settle the dispute and ensure the return of its waste management service to normal operations.
Signatures (3)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.