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“It is regrettable that it has come to this, the council has consistently tried to find a solution to the industrial action. We have made a very fair offer which means that no worker need lose any money. That offer remains open. 

“We confirm that regrettably we have informed Unite representatives that next week we will formally notify and enter a period of collective consultation regarding compulsory redundancies for those who have declined all offers on the table.

“This is about securing a better waste service for the people of Birmingham. We thank staff who are working under difficult conditions and recognise the frustration of residents for which we apologise.”

For background:

Negotiations will restart on Monday.

All staff have been offered alternative employment at the same pay and almost three-quarters of staff have taken up this offer or decided to take voluntary redundancy. There are now 41 workers who have declined any offer, and 35 workers who opted for valuable and skilled driver training who have also told us via a letter from Unite that they are working under protest.

The proposal declined by Unite membership in their recent ballot included:

• An offer of NVQ level training for alternative skilled work across other waste services
• An offer of training and equivalent graded roles in street cleansing and in other parts of the council
• Voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms, and with pension payments made up for anyone aged over 55
• 6 months’ pay protection in line with council policy for the lower graded role
• A one-off payment as an alternative to redundancy to buy-out contractual entitlements
• The option to take fully funded LGV driver training and a driver role upon successful completion of training

The WRCO role is not industry standard and does not exist in other councils and is not a role we can reinstate without opening ourselves up to potential equal pay liability.

As part of the compulsory redundancy process, those remaining workers will be re-offered all of the options listed above and we would encourage them to consider this offer again.

Throughout this process we have been very accommodating. Since the start of the industrial dispute, there have been regular and ongoing meetings with Unite officers and shop stewards to seek to resolve the dispute, including two under the auspices of ACAS.

We must improve this service and we would ask Unite to work with us as we make these changes for the benefit of the whole city.