Birmingham’s bin strike shows no sign of ending. This timeline traces how the crisis unfolded — from council bankruptcy to all-out strike — and what Brummies can expect now.
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00:00Birmingham's had bin strikes before in 2017 and again in 2019. Each one brought its own wave of disruption.
00:09But this time it's different because in 2023 the council ran out of money.
00:14In September 2023, Birmingham City Council effectively goes bust.
00:19It issues a section 114 notice, blaming hundreds of millions in equal pay claims.
00:24Suddenly every service is on the table, including bins.
00:28Towards the end of 2024, the council announces plans to scrap the waste and recycling collection officer role.
00:35They argue it could lead to more equal pay claims.
00:38On the 4th of December, bin workers voted to strike.
00:42The first kicks off on the 6th of January.
00:45It's just one day a week to start with, but collections begin slipping straight away.
00:50Rubbish starts piling up. By early February, the pressure is building.
00:54A public petition takes off. Thousand sign outside the council house. Protesters demand answers.
01:01On the 17th of February, the council offers a one-off payout. The offer is rejected.
01:07Ten days later, on the 26th of February, Unite announces an indefinite strike starting in March.
01:14It accuses the council of using agency workers to break the strike.
01:19Then, on the 11th of March, the all-out strike begins. Recycling and garden waste collections are cancelled.
01:26Pickets are in place. Crews can't get out. And the rubbish keeps piling up.
01:31By mid-March, the streets are suffering. Fly tipping increases. Rats are spotted more often.
01:37Local businesses and schools begin to raise hygiene concerns.
01:41On the 25th of March, councillors urge the council to delay switching to fortnightly collections.
01:48Two days later, on the 27th, the cabinet member responsible for bins resigns from Unite.
01:54He says he was threatened on the picket line. The division runs deep.
01:59On the 31st of March, the council declares a major incident. It warns that public health is at risk.
02:06Contractors are called in. Police are asked to keep the depots open.
02:11By the 1st of April, police are guarding the gates. Trucks finally start moving again.
02:16The council says 90 crews are now on the road, but there's still a mountain of ways to get through.
02:22On the 2nd and 3rd of April, temporary drop-off sites open. Tips extend their hours.
02:27Some residents queue for hours to get rid of the rubbish. Many say they feel forgotten.
02:32On the 5th of April, things boil over in the council chamber.
02:36One councillor resigns in frustration. The crisis is now front and centre.
02:41As it stands, talks have stalled. Unite say they'll strike until summer if they have to.
02:47The council says backing down could bring on another financial collapse.
02:51And stuck in the middle of it all, the people of Birmingham.
02:54Still stepping over bin bags, waiting for someone to sort it out.
02:59Right now, Birmingham is trying to dig itself out of a deep mess.
03:03The council says it has 90 bin crews out on the streets each day.
03:07But the backlog is huge.
03:09Many areas still haven't seen a proper collection in weeks.
03:16The council is warning that it could take up to three weeks just to get weekly collections running normally.
03:23And then up to another three weeks to fully clear all the rubbish that's built up on the streets.
03:28Recycling garden waste and bulky item collections are still on hold.
03:35There's no word yet on when they'll return.
03:37In the meantime, tips have extended their opening hours.
03:41Police are still stationed outside depots. That's helping trucks get out.
03:45But tensions remain high. Unite's pickets are still active.
03:49And the union says it won't back down.
03:52The council says it's done everything it can.
03:54It insists no worker will lose pay if they accept new roles.
03:58With finances already under government control, their say the hands are tied.
04:02So where does that leave Brummies? Still caught in the middle.
04:05For families with young kids. For elderly residents living alone.
04:09For anyone without a car to dump their own rubbish. The impact is daily and constant.
04:14The bins outside aren't just smelly. They're a symbol of a system that's no longer working.
04:19And until the two sides reach a deal, it's the people of Birmingham who are paying the price.