By Gavin Mackintosh-
A nine week long bin strike in Birmingham is affecting residents and polluting the atomosphere. Bin men from Birmingham have been striking for the last five weeks over pay issues, and set to continue for another 4 weeks. The bin strike, over a proposed job and hour shake up, has led to a pile up of lots of rubbish belonging to many residents. Bin workers are upset over a £6,ooo pay cut imposed by Birmingham Council
The strike which has been going on since June 30, and is set to continue until September 1. Council chiefs are trying to contain the situation but are failing miserably. Fibi Braich from Birmingham Council told the eye of media.com ” meetings are going on to try and solve the problem. The strike is causing so much disruption , it has become so horrific that it is getting out of hand. The council has hired agency workers to help, and efforts are being made to collect refuse and recycling. There is a big backlog, and it’s affecting everyone.”
BEGGING SIGNS
Some residents have gone as far as creating begging signs to binmen to collect to correct their rubbish. In small heath, Birmingham, residents have come together to arrange their own collection. The eye of media.com heard that members of the Bearded Broz took to the streets and coverd six streets in small Heath, as they appealed for a bigger truck or skip.
CLEAN UP
Birmingham Council are now working on a street by street clean up, aimed at addressing the backlog that has compromised the hygiene levels of Birmingham City. Last Sunday, a resident filmed a a load of maggots with bugs piled up on a heap of rubbish on the, pavement of Clifton road in Balsall Heath that had led to several rats and caused an unbearable stench. The footage was shared on social media where lots of Birmingham residents have been talking about the situation.
Council leaders have ordered bin crews to get their act together and sort out the messy pile of rubbish contaminating the streets of Birmingham. Some progress is being made, but very limited. Several residents have threatened to cease their payments of council tax, with some even demanding a refund of their council tax.
DISGRACEFUL
33 year old Rachael Pickle from Digbeth, told the eye of media.com ” this is just disgraceful. How can Birmingham council justify charging us council tax in the months thst this strike is continuing? We can’t be expected to continue to pay whilst our rubbish are piled up indefinitely in front of our homes. I have had to get my 15 year old son to drive our rubbish and dump it somewhere else, where it will worsen the rubbish already there.
29 year old Neil Ballard told the eye of media.com ” I will be asking the council for a refund of my council tax. A few of my friends and my family will be approching the council to tell them we will not be paying any more council tax. No council tax until the strike ends. This is unbelievably shameful and disgusting”.
Birmingham Council told the eye of media.com that no council tax will be refunded, neither will the strike pemit any resident of Birmingham to miss their payments.
Fibi Braich told the eye of media.com ” the cost of council tax to each household is just 92 pence for all refuse and cycling collections. The feeling of disappointment with residents is understandable, but the thought of rebellion by withholding council tax payments will not work or change anything. As stated earlier, talks between the council and the union are ongoing, and it is hoped a resolution will be achieved in due course”.