Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, is facing a severe garbage crisis due to strikes by its waste collectors. The workers, represented by the union Unite, are protesting against the government’s decision to eliminate a particular role within their ranks, which they claim will block pay progression and demote staff.
The dispute has tipped into its fourth consecutive month, with nearly 400 garbage collectors on strike. The city council disputes this figure, stating that alternative roles and retraining opportunities have been offered to affected workers. However, the strike has resulted in a significant buildup of waste, with some residents not having their waste collected for weeks.
Pest controller Timms, who is seeing an increase in rat infestations due to the garbage crisis, says the smell is “absolutely unbelievable.” He notes that business is booming, but he cannot handle the caseload alone and has passed some jobs to rival pest controllers. The strike has resulted in a 50% increase in calls from people finding rats in their homes.
The city council declared the buildup of waste and public health risk as a “major incident,” deploying extra garbage trucks around the city. However, protesters have blocked trucks leaving waste depots, resulting in fewer collections from households. Timms describes the situation as a “Dickensian portrait” of a city struggling to cope with its problems.
The crisis is not just a local issue but also reflects broader challenges facing Britain’s local authorities. The government has reduced funding for councils, and Birmingham’s misfortunes weigh heavily on residents like Timms, who are affected by the garbage crisis. Despite the negative news, many residents remain proud of their hometown and express solidarity with each other.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/05/business/birmingham-uk-garbage-strike-intl/index.html