Birmingham City Council and Unite: Refuse Workers’ Pay

Lord Woodley Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Woodley]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the parties involved in the industrial dispute between Birmingham City Council and Unite regarding the pay of refuse workers.

[Lord Woodley (Lab)]

In begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name, I declare an interest as the former general secretary of Unite the Union.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Baroness Taylor of Stevenage) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government recognise the deep frustration of residents with the ongoing waste dispute. The people of Birmingham must be at the heart of resolving this issue. While the Government are not a party in this dispute, the Secretary of State has met both parties and urged them to bring about a sustainable solution to end it. We continue to monitor the situation, alongside the associated impact on local communities.

[Lord Woodley (Lab)]

The Minister is well aware that, almost a year ago, an agreement was reached at ACAS between the chief executive of the council and Unite to end this dispute, only for it to be vetoed by the commissioners appointed by the last Government on about £1,200 a day. Does the Minister agree that this agreement must be honoured, or the commissioners replaced, to end this rat-infested, unnecessary dispute that has cost over £33 million to date and is badly damaging services that are so important to the people of Birmingham?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

We all want to see the dispute brought to a resolution as quickly as possible. The government-appointed commissioners have been in place at the council since 2023 to oversee its improvement journey. That involves working with the council to make sure that its decisions align with its statutory duties. On the waste dispute, it is not true that the commissioners are blocking a viable deal. As noble Lords would expect, the commissioners are supporting Birmingham City Council to ensure that its approach is in line with its legal obligations, including the best value duty. They report regularly to the Secretary of State, but they are independent of government and Ministers do not dictate their decisions or approve their actions.