The Branch Executive of Birmingham UNISON wishes to express our full solidarity with striking members of UNITE who work for the Refuse Collection Service in Birmingham.
UNITE members, like all trade unionists, have a right to take strike action and refuse to accept substantial pay cuts. At a time when workers are experiencing a severe cost of living crisis who could afford to take a pay cut of up to £8,000.
We do not support the costly efforts made by Birmingham Labour Council to undermine the dispute and believe their efforts would be better directed to negotiating a resolution of the dispute.
We do not support the pressure put on the West Midlands Police to intervene on the side of the Council and stop the effective and peaceful picketing by UNITE members of their place of work.