People hardly speak of it any more, but the Birmingham bin-men's strike continues. However, I see that the good folk of Brum are taking to the streets IN SUPPORT OF their striking dustmen.
Personally, if my city was filled with litter, rats, rotting food, maggots, and general unmentionable waste, I certainly wouldn't be out on the street supporting the very people who refuse to clear it up. But up in the North, where Trade Union support is strong, they see things differently.
Having already been on strike since January, the 'Unite' union is suggesting that it could continue until March 2026. I can't imagine people are happy; including their supporters!
I should add here that we have a large black bin, and a couple of slightly smaller recycling bins, hidden round behind our garages. They are emptied EVERY DAY, and I always offer a cheery 'Good Morning' to the men when I see them. They in turn always stroke Billy and continue on their round.
Would I move to Birmingham. Not bloody likely!
Labour led Birmingham Council declared themselves bankrupt in 2023. Just another mismanaged council.
24 comments:
"... emptied every day"? Seems excessive.
Other than that? Leave Birmingham to it. Maybe there is method in their madness. If all else fails they can always move to Brighton.
U
That sounds gross and a health hazard. Does someone remove the rubbish? Volunteers?
No thank you. They can all stay up there.
I think there are people who remove some of it, but the streets are still piled high with rubbish.
I can't imagine having rubbish pile up for that long. Surprising the army hasn't been brought in. I am also surprised Brighton has daily rubbish collection. Would only be for commercial premises here. We have wheelie bins emptied weekly with green waste fortnightly.
While it may seem so from the South coast, Birmingham is definitely in the Midlands, not the North.
They empty yours every day? Like Ursula says, a bit excessive! Ours get done once a fortnight, alternately recycle and rubbish, and even then ours barely has anything in it as we don't waste anything. Our recyle bin is about half full at collecting time, so once a fortnight is plenty for us.
Our rubbish is collected every day too. It does tend to pile up because the bins are for quite a large area and there's always garden rubbish and other stuff around them.
I cannot imagine living with the sight and smell. Hasn't the army been called in with bulldozers?
They're very good here. It's a pity they aren't quite so god at weed-removal on the roads, or pothole filling. But I suppose we can't have everything.
If it's north of Watford, it's 'up north'.
It seems to fill up very quickly. We are in the middle of a big 'city'.
It is surprising that they haven't done something about it. I suppose they don't care!
They are not called "dustmen" or "bin-men", they are called Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCOs) and within their ranks there's a small number of women. I wonder if you have bothered to dig into the complicated causes of this long-running dispute. I hope that they find a solution soon but it is taking a hell of a long time.
I'm not that interested in the causes; just in the filth that piling up over the city. Surely it must be all over sooner than next year!
It is good to see your Labour led Council doing such a good job.
I think your comment about bins being emptied every day has confused people into thinking you were talking about your household waste.
I was! We have a very good service. At least they get something right.
Birmingham is the Midlands. I am in the East Midlands. North starts near Sheffield.
I stand corrected. I had no idea that there was a district where an individual household gets their rubbish bin emptied every day. Must admit, if I were a council member that would be likely at the top of my list for cost cutting.
Ah now I understand, you don’t have a house bin, you use a bin that is a communal collection.
Yes, it's a big black bin that is used by everyone in our immediate area.
That's the view of a Midlands resident. For us in the South it starts at Watford. Or even at Croydon!
Bin collection strikes are somewhat common. We had one in MA about a month ago. The workers wanted better pay. After a few months of negotiation, things were settled.
The trash piled up terribly, just as your photos show.
Everybody needs a living wage.
I think this strike is about changes that the council wish to make, meaning many bin-men would have a reduced salary. They are not happy.
That's a surprise coming from you Cro, I thought your family moved to Shropshire, which is even more up north!
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