Radical unions could cripple the whole of the country with the same terrible bin strike fate inflicted on Birmingham, sources have warned. In a move that could sweep cat-sized rats into streets up and down England, Unite union is now considering a series of walkouts across multiple councils.
The threat comes after the powerful union voted against the latest pay settlement, which Angela Rayner had implored them to support. A senior union source warned that with several other councils in a similar financial position to Birmingham, bin men walk outs could next to place in town halls such as Yorkshire, Peterborough, Sheffield and Cambridge. The source told the Telegraph: “If it was looking for our members anywhere like it is in Birmingham, with a quarter of wages being cut, then of course there would be a response.
“And then it would be up to members to vote, but it’s not inconceivable. A lot of the funding for local authorities isn’t sorted, and then you [could] have austerity basically come back in and people’s wages start to be cut again.
“A lot of towns’ responses are going to be people wanting to fight against that.”
Today’s vote against pay settlement in Birmingham was a major blow to Ms Rayner and the Labour Party just weeks ahead of the local elections.
Conservative MP Wendy Morton, who represents Aldridge-Brownhills in the West Midlands, said Unite’s vote against the latest payoff would see rats “dancing in the streets”.
She fumed: “This really shows yet again Labour-led Birmingham Council and this Labour Government are failing residents and our region. They need to get a grip, stop blaming others, and face the unions – their paymasters. The Squeaky Blinders must be dancing in the streets.”
Kemi Badenoch said it is proof that Labour can’t be trusted to run local councils, while local government minister Jim McMahon described the vote as “deeply disappointing”.
Mr McMahon described the latest pay offer as “fair and reasonable”, and urged Unite to “end the strikes and return to talks”.
However Unite baron Sharon Graham accused the Government and Labour council of lying about the level of cuts planned, and how much existing bin men would lose out on.
She blasted: “Instead of peddling untruths about these low-paid workers and focusing on winning a media war, the Government should have taken the time to check facts and used its office to bring the council to the table in a meaningful way.”
“The rejection of the offer is no surprise as these workers simply cannot afford to take pay cuts of this magnitude to pay the price for bad decision after bad decision.”
On Sunday, Ms Rayner called in the army to help tackle the crisis, however this morning it was clarified the total military presence in the city is just three people.