Image source, PA Media

Relations between the union Unite and the Labour Party, currently in charge of Birmingham City Council, became increasingly bitter over the course of the bin strikes.

Historically, the union has been the Labour Party's biggest affiliate, but this has been cut in recent years.

In March, they voted to cut their affiliation fees to Labour by 40% over the party's actions relating to the strike, a £580,000 decrease.

At the time, general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on."

While a Labour Party spokesperson said: "Unite could and should end the strikes."

Image source, Getty Images

The striking bin workers have been praised by their union, Unite, for getting a deal back on the table.

The full details will stay confidential while they wait for the detailed offer from the city council, a spokesperson said, adding it would have to be voted on by the workers.

“I salute the fortitude of my members who have needlessly been forced to endure months of attacks and hardship to get us to this point," general secretary Sharon Graham (pictured) said.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, Birmingham

This marks a significant moment in this long-running saga that has caused so much disruption to the city of Birmingham. But it’s far from over.

The Labour administration say they have the framework of a deal that could end the strike and that they will instruct officers to move ahead with that deal if they are still in power after the local election.

Unite says this forms the basis of an acceptable situation for members - including compensation for drivers which was a former sticking point - and that it’s a jumping off point for any party in charge here to work from.

There are a lot of questions, though:

How some of the equal pay issues that the council leadership was so adamant were a problem have been overcome.

Whether this proposal has the backing of officers and the commissioners still overseeing the council.

And whether it will make any difference to the public going to the polls on 7 May.

Unite says the full details of the deal will remain confidential while negotiations continue with the council, but says it is based on the "ballpark" deal agreed at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) last year.

The union says this included:

• A minimum of two years cushion for workers from the impacts of the job evaluation process, rather than six months
• Striking agency workers with more than 12 months of employment on the contract will be offered a path to permanent employment
• Disciplinary issues will be quashed and the gross misconduct issue reviewed
• For pension purposes the dispute will be treated as authorised absence
• Legal action on both sides will be ended

Image source, Gabriel Bononi

We will bring you reaction as we get it from the other political parties in Birmingham to today's agreement reached between the city council and Unite.

But back in April, Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice told Times Radio the strikes could be tackled with a Doge-like approach (referring to the Department of Government Efficiency set up in the US by Elon Musk).

At the same time, the Conservatives said they would end the strike with group leader, councillor Robert Alden, saying: "If we take control of the council in May this year, we'll reinstate weekly bin collections, create dedicated clean-up crews to tackle rubbish on the streets, and end the equal pay liabilities created by Labour."

We have asked both parties along with the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats for their reaction today.

Image source, Reuters

One of the UK's biggest industrial disputes in recent years began back on 6 January 2025 when up to 350 Unite the Union members began a series of one-day strikes over pay and the removal of a couple of roles.

An all-out strike was then launched weeks later on 11 March.

Throughout the dispute, the council has employed agency workers to collect household waste, but at times, piles of rubbish have grown on pavements and street corners while many bins overflow.

Recycling has not been collected for more than a year, with residents taking to it to tips themselves, organising with neighbours to do pick ups or simply hoarding it. Many say they have to put recycling in their household waste bins.

The strike has been bitter, with collections by agency workers being disrupted on several occasions as striking workers blocked lorries from leaving depots and the issue even ended up at the High Court.

Responding to the council's statement, Onay Kasab, from the Unite union, said the reality for them was that they were only "where we are now because of our members being absolutely strong".

He said there was a potential deal on the table but it would have to go to the union's members.

"What I want to see is a resolution to the dispute," he added.

This is "a deal that would be good for the workforce, represent good value for money and would not repeat the mistakes of the past and risk creating new structural equal pay liabilities", the council leader's statement continues.

“I want our workforce to be able to return to work and help us deliver the quality refuse and recycling services the people of this city deserve. That’s why throughout this dispute I have resisted those who would dismiss the striking workers instead of negotiating.

“I have instructed officers to move forward with negotiations so that we can bring this matter to a close.

But he added the deal could not be signed off until after next week's council elections, because of pre-poll restrictions on policy changes.

We'll bring you reaction from other parties in Birmingham as soon as we get it.

One of the biggest industrial disputes of recent years looks set to end.

Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton says: “After months of frustration and delay, for the first time in over 12 months a negotiated settlement to end the bin strike is now within sight.

“This has been a challenging and complex process, but after months of hard work, on the principles and parameters of a deal, I believe a new improved offer can be made and terms can be put in place that address the 'ballpark issues' discussed at ACAS that Unite members can agree in order to end the strike once and for all."

The Labour-led Birmingham City Council and Unite the Union have reached an agreement that is expected to bring the bin strike to an end.

• The dispute initially centred on the council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles
• The union claimed about 170 affected workers faced losing up to £8,000 a year but the council disputed those figures
• Union members started a series of one-day strikes on 6 January 2025
• An all-out strike was launched on 11 March, leading to piles of uncollected waste
• The council ensured household waste collections were still made, but recycling collections were suspended
• Picketers delayed crews from leaving waste depots to collect rubbish, before a High Court injunction was granted
• Agency workers joined the Unite action in December in a separate dispute over bullying and harassment
• Talks to end the dispute broke down last summer, with the council announcing in July it was pressing ahead with its restructuring plans

We are bringing you coverage from Birmingham today where we are expecting an update this afternoon from the leader of the city council, John Cotton, on the ongoing bin strike.

This will then be followed by the Unite union issuing a written statement.

Stay with us for updates.