BIRMINGHAM (Agencies): Britain’s second-largest city, Birmingham, has declared a “major incident” after a prolonged sanitation workers’ strike left over 17,000 tons of uncollected garbage on its streets, causing widespread disruption and distress among residents.
John Cotton, leader of the Birmingham city council, expressed regret over the decision, stating that the situation had become intolerable. “We cannot tolerate a situation that is causing harm and distress to communities across Birmingham,” he said in a statement.
The strike, which began in December 2024, was initiated by the trade group Unite the Union, following disputes over pay cuts, the elimination of a waste collection role, and a ban on overtime for garbage collectors. The strike escalated in 2025, leaving trash mounds overflowing from bins and dumpsters across the city, with photographs showing the extent of the problem.
The city council claims that workers were offered alternative employment at the same pay, along with driver training or voluntary redundancy. However, the council’s position has sparked fierce opposition from the union, which argues that the city is imposing demotions and pay cuts at great cost, rather than seeking a fair resolution.
Sharon Graham, secretary of Unite the Union, accused the city of ignoring a more cost-effective solution. “Birmingham council could easily resolve this dispute but instead it seems hellbent on imposing its plan of demotions and pay cuts at all costs,” she said.
Temporary workers were hired to pick up the trash, but these efforts have been obstructed by striking workers blocking depots. In an attempt to bypass the ongoing picket lines, the city declared the “major incident,” which would allow for street cleaning to proceed despite the strike.
Sanitation workers, in turn, accused the city of “strike breaking” and undermining the legitimacy of their protest.
The British government is closely monitoring the situation, with Minister of Communities Jim McMahon confirming that national support is available if local leaders in Birmingham require additional resources to resolve the issue.
As tensions continue to rise, the city faces increasing pressure to resolve the dispute swiftly, with the uncollected garbage posing significant public health and environmental risks.