Trade unionists back bin strike and warn of a ‘race to the bottom’ on wages

Birmingham’s striking bin workers have received backing from the leaders of Aslef and the National Education Union (NEU) at a collective action “megapicket” outside a depot and recycling centre.

Around 200 people gathered in Ebury Road, in the Kings Norton area of the city, to hear NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede describe the all-out strike by members of Unite, which began almost two months ago, as a fight against “a race to the bottom” on working people’s wages.

Birmingham City Council declared a major incident relating to the strike by Unite members on March 31 after estimating that around 17,000 tonnes of waste was uncollected.

Mr Kebede, who represents around half a million teachers and support staff, told the picket line: “We bring our solidarity to this picket because the Birmingham bin strike is a strike of national importance.

“If a Labour council – a Labour council – can get away with cutting the wages of these workers, then a Labour government can get away with attacks on the rest of us.”

Claiming that the Labour Government was “lining up attacks” on education and would be the first Labour government since the 1970s to do so, Mr Kebede said: “We are standing here with the bin men and bin workers today because it could be us tomorrow.

“This solidarity… is showing what we can do when we unite across our sectors and across our industries.

“Without the people here, not a single cog would turn. It wasn’t the councillors who were sat in city hall who were making the difference during the pandemic.”

To loud applause from protestors, Mr Kebede went on: “It was the refuse workers keeping the streets clean. It was the teachers who kept education going, it was the doctors and the nurses.

“So let’s stand together as working people and say that we absolutely refuse to endure a race to the bottom.

“Let’s push back against this austerity government and ensure that our society can flourish.”

Train drivers’ union Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, thanked trade unionists in the crowd for their their support during previous rail disputes and said he was proud to be with them.

Mr Whelan said: “It’s to our shame that we have to stand here today in a Labour-controlled authority talking about people’s wages being changed without agreement.”

Turning the effects of 14 years of austerity back on workers could not be right, Mr Whelan said, adding: “I can’t articulate this dispute as well as the people involved in it – because it’s their futures, it’s their livings, it’s their families.

“But we do know from what we have seen in the past, if we don’t stand together, they will defeat us. If we don’t behave as a collective, they will hurt us.

“If we don’t send the messages we need to see, they believe they can turn us over.

“We will be with you today, we will come back tomorrow, we will come back another day until you win.”

Kate Taylor, of the Birmingham branch of the NEU and also a national executive member of the union, told the crowd: “This bin strike is for all of us – it’s for all trade unionists. That is why so may of us are here today showing solidarity and fighting with you.”

Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union and other groups also addressed the crowd, including Artin Giles of the Jeremy Corbyn-founded Peace and Justice Project.

Offering both Mr Corbyn’s and the project’s full solidarity, Mr Giles said: “I think we really are at a moment where people are realising that no matter if it’s a red rosette or a blue rosette, the rich get richer whilst the working class gets cuts to services that we all rely on.

“And that’s the case whether we talk about schools, health clinics or refuse collection.”

Unite organiser Pete Randall told the picket that he believed “victory” in the dispute was not too far away.

“It’s been an absolute honour to stand here with our members,” he said. “I remember the very first day rocking up at the top of Lifford Lane/Ebury Road.

“I have got to know the members. I can see it in their eyes. I can see how it feels for them. And that’s what it’s all about – understanding from a striker’s perspective.

“I praise every single worker that is out on the picket lines. This is what a union looks like.”