Birmingham bin strike: show your support against Labour’s austerity
Ray M •The policy conference of Unite the Union has backed the bin workers and is questioning the union’s support for Labour, reports Ray M, a conference delegate and rs21 member. Everyone can do something to support this crucial strike.
One of the biggest themes at the Unite policy conference was the long running Birmingham bins dispute. Nearly 400 bin workers have been on all-out strike for over three months against attempts by the Labour council to force through pay cuts of £8,000 on drivers.
New attack from management, workers stand firm
Birmingham Unite rep and bin worker Danny Taylor addressed the conference to explain the background to the dispute and the need for solidarity. He reminded delegates that during the pandemic, bin workers didn’t get to work from home – they put their health at risk doing collections that kept the city going. Yet Birmingham Council had just announced a manoeuvre to threaten the sack for striking workers who refuse to accept the pay cuts. This is ‘fire and rehire’ by another name.
The workers are standing firm. In their latest ballot 97 per cent voted for further action on a 75 per cent turnout. Danny received a standing ovation, and a pledge from Sharon Graham of continued support from the union.
Stopping austerity in council services
Councils across the country face a financial crisis. If management wins in Birmingham it gives a green light to attacks on workers across local government. ‘If they get away with this here’, Danny told the conference, ‘other councils will follow. Every worker in local government will feel the impact’.
On the final day of conference an emergency motion was passed which demanded that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner lead the talks. Rayner has visited Birmingham, Danny reminded conference – ‘but instead of visiting the picket lines, she met with scab agency strike breakers and congratulated them on a job well done.’
Rayner has been blocking resolution of the dispute – Unite delegates felt it’s better to sit down with the organ grinder if we want to get a resolution, not the monkeys who run Birmingham Council.
Unite to re-evaluate Labour links
The motion also insisted that Rayner and the Labour councillors who are Unite members should be immediately suspended from the union while they are investigated for bringing the union into disrepute, and that Unite should investigate their behaviour with a view to expelling them from the union. In addition, it called for Unite’s relationship with the Labour Party to be reevaluated if no resolution to the dispute can be found. In her closing remarks to the conference, Sharon Graham said she’d received a text from Downing Street ten minutes after the news of the motion became public.
This is a hugely significant development. Unite has never before taken a step like this – whatever the practicalities or outcome of any investigations, this sends a strong signal to the leadership of the Labour party, the council and government. Coming days after Zarah Sultana resigned from Labour to lead a new left party alongside Jeremy Corbyn, the decision highlights the ever-growing rejection of an authoritarian government that tries to cut benefits but won’t support trade unionists.
Mega-picket on 25 July
On 9 May, workers from across Britain held a mega picket in solidarity with the strikers, shutting down the depot and building the confidence of the strikers. There’s no doubt that the Council is under growing pressure. Unite has announced another mega picket on 25 July. This picket gives workers across the labour movement an opportunity to shut down the bin depots and show the Labour government that we will not allow the Birmingham bin workers to stand alone. This dispute has national implications and it’s important that the movement responds with the biggest mega picket yet.
What you can do
Support for the Birmingham strike is vital. With talk of a new left party ongoing, the strike is a practical example of an alternative to Starmer’s Labour. Everyone can support the strike.
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