Mounds of rubbish are to continue blighting Birmingham as the city’s bin workers strike, leading to scenes of chaos with rats the size of cats’ roaming the streets. Bin bags are stacked six feet high in some places and residents claim their recycling hasn’t been collected in a month.
Nearly 400 council bin workers began intermittent strikes in January in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Today marks the 75th day since walkout-outs started. Members of the Unite union in the city launched indefinite strike action on March 11 with some residents complaining that rats are rummaging through the piles of waste, leading to fears over public health. Union officials met council officers today but the talks held were said to be “inconclusive” – meaning locals’ rodents’ misery continues.
A Unite spokesperson said: “The talks were inconclusive. There was an exchange of information and Unite asked for clarity on a number of points raised by the council, which are currently being worked on.
“It was agreed that there would be further regular negotiations but dates for further talks have not yet been set.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Whilst no resolution was reached today, there are points for discussion, the tone was constructive and we are working on the matters raised.
“We have contacted Unite representatives to schedule the series of future meeting dates.”
Rodents have been plaguing the city for weeks, with one pest control expert telling how he had seen kitten-sized rodents.
A Tory MP whose constituency is in the West Midlands warned “rats the size of cats” were not welcome beyond the city’s boundaries.
William Timms, the owner of WJ Pest Solutions in Birmingham, told the BBC how Britain’s second second city is “inundated” with rats, adding he had seen a 75% increase in calls.
He said: “There are rats in front gardens, back, and gaining access because of the bins being left out. We’re going to be inundated with them. It’s unbelievable at the moment.”
Earlier this week, residents swarmed a bin lorry, sparking enough concern from a local councillor to call the police.
Residents arrived carrying bursting black bags in a desperate bid to ditch them.
