'Utterly condemn': Birmingham City Council’s message to union amid claims of ‘violence’

Coun Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment, also condemned the “obstruction” of bin lorries at depots during an interview this week.

The bins strike was triggered by a dispute between the Labour-run council and Unite the union over the scrapping of a job role.

But Unite’s national officer Onay Kasab described Coun Mahmood’s comments as an “attempt to demonise striking workers on lawful and peaceful picket lines”.

Quizzed about the bins strike in Birmingham during an interview, Coun Mahmood said: “I utterly condemn the violence we have witnessed at the depots.

“People should be able to go to and from work without the fear and intimidation.”

He continued: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been working under difficult circumstances.

“In addition, none of the trucks should be blocked – it’s obstruction of the highways.

“I would urge Unite to speak to those responsible, condemn the violence and intimidation at the pickets and work with us to stop the obstruction of the highway in the immediate effect.”

In response, Mr Kasab said: “These smears are simply an attempt to demonise striking workers on lawful and peaceful picket lines.

“The council is well aware that Unite fully complies with the Code of Practice on Picketing and picket line supervisors are present at every strike to ensure a calm environment and maintain health and safety.”

He added: “It is normal for striking workers to ask people not to cross picket lines and to speak to their colleagues about why they are taking industrial action.”

Unite organised the bins strike over the council’s plans to scrap the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role, which the union described as “safety-critical”.

“The council could end this dispute tomorrow by agreeing to pay a decent rate of pay,” Mr Kasab said previously.

“The council is forcing dedicated workers onto pay levels barely above the minimum wage while undertaking a difficult and highly demanding job in all weathers.”

But during yesterday’s interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Coun Mahmood said the council had made a “fair and reasonable offer”, adding: “Not a single worker needs to lose a penny.

“Every worker has been offered the same grade and the same pay within the street scene division of the city council.”

“Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service,” a council spokesperson also previously said.

The authority said its routes and working practices were fully risk-assessed and health and safety was “everyone’s responsibility”.