Birmingham streets full of garbage, pests, and stink as workers strike drags on

A bitter standoff between Birmingham’s municipal workers and the city council has led to an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish lying uncollected on the streets. The strike, which started with limited action in January, turned into an indefinite full strike.

The city council declared a “major incident” on Monday, allowing it to draw on extra support from other government bodies and nearby councils. While some rubbish collection is still happening, and many parts of the city centre remain clean, elsewhere, residents are dealing with overflowing bins, bad smells, and pests.

People have reported seeing rats, cockroaches, maggots, and foxes among the waste. One person even said they were bitten by a rat.

The dispute dates back to 2023 when Birmingham city council effectively declared bankruptcy. In response, the council planned a restructuring, which workers say would cut pay for about 150 workers by up to £8,000 a year. The council argues only 17 staff would lose that much. The two sides remain deadlock.

In the British parliament, Jim McMahon, a minister from the ruling Labour Party, raised concerns about public health risks linked to the growing piles of rubbish. Opposition MP Julian Lewis compared the current crisis to the 1978 garbage strike during the industrial unrest under then-prime minister James Callaghan. That period, known as the “winter of discontent,” was followed by Labour’s defeat in the general election and the rise of Margaret Thatcher.