The UK government has called in Army logistics experts to help tackle Birmingham’s mounting waste crisis after a month-long refuse workers’ strike left streets piled with an estimated 17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish. While no soldiers will directly collect waste, a small team of military planners will provide operational support to Birmingham City Council, which declared a major incident last month as overflowing bins created growing public health concerns.
The strike by Unite union members, which began on 11 March over pay and working conditions, has forced residents to queue for hours at mobile waste collection points. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has urged workers to accept what she calls a “significantly improved” offer, with striking staff set to vote on the proposal Monday. However, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham dismissed the deal as inadequate, saying it only offers “pay protection for a few” while leaving broader grievances unresolved.
The Labour-run council has sought help from neighboring authorities and reopened household waste centers to alleviate the crisis. A government spokesperson stressed the military’s role remains limited to planning support, building on existing logistical assistance. With public health risks escalating and no immediate resolution in sight, Monday’s union vote could prove decisive in ending what has become one of Birmingham’s most disruptive industrial actions in recent years.
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