A breakthrough is on the horizon in the bitter 14-month dispute between Birmingham City Council and its bin workers, with the council leader claiming a deal is "within sight."
Unite the Union members have been on strike since January last year, escalating to an all-out strike in March that has left rubbish piling up and recycling services suspended across the city.
Council leader John Cotton said that after months of "frustration and delay," the council is now able to present an improved offer. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called the development a "vindication" for the striking workers.
Opposition parties, however, dismissed the announcement as an "election stunt" ahead of local elections next week, accusing the Labour administration of playing "political games."
The dispute began when the council decided to eliminate Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles, claiming the change was necessary for service improvements. The union argued that around 170 affected workers faced salary cuts of up to £8,000 per year, though the council contested that figure.
Cotton stated that negotiations had been "challenging and complex" but that the new offer addresses issues previously discussed at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). He emphasized that the deal would be "good for the workforce, represent good value for money, and not repeat the mistakes of the past."
Unite said the full details remain confidential pending a formal offer from the council, which will then be put to a vote by workers. The union's national lead officer, Onay Kasab, revealed that the offer includes compensation of £16,000 for workers, a change from previous offers that excluded drivers.
Graham praised the workers' resilience: "I salute the fortitude of my members who have needlessly been forced to endure months of attacks and hardship."
The council also confirmed that new fortnightly waste and recycling collections, along with weekly food waste pickups, will roll out from June despite the ongoing strike.
Opposition leaders criticized the timing of the announcement, coming just 10 days before the 7 May local elections, when all 101 council seats are up for grabs. Labour currently holds 65 seats, a majority that could shift.
Conservative group leader Robert Alden accused Labour of putting political interests first, saying, "If Labour had a lawful deal, they would already have put it to the council to agree months ago." Liberal Democrat leader Roger Harmer called it a "cynical pre-election ploy."
The strike has been one of the longest-running municipal disputes in recent years, causing significant disruption for Birmingham residents.