Labour vs the working class
Birmingham Socialist Party members
Birmingham bin workers in Unite the Union are in a heroic six-month dispute against the Labour city council, seeking to impose up to £8,000 pay cuts. The council has been using any means to break the strike – court injunctions to stop pickets, paying for a police and security presence, and even alluding to calling in the army.
The crunch time of the dispute has arrived. During Unite’s conference, council leader John Cotton effectively gave notice of ‘fire and rehire’. This could be formally triggered very soon, and the consultation period could be as little as 45 days.
The emergency motion which passed at Unite conference supporting the bin workers – suspending Labour deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and the Birmingham councillors from Unite, and opening up a discussion on the union’s relationship with Labour – has to be linked to decisively escalating the industrial action strategy.
Birmingham City Council has gone for the bin workers now, but all other council workers could be under attack. The discontent of council workers will only grow after the threats of fire and rehire. Despite the council’s use of targeted messaging to try to turn the workforce against the bin workers, council workers have not bought the lies! When the council asked workers in one department what could be done to make them feel ‘valued’, the answer was clear: “Stop the cuts and pay the bin workers!” The fact is, when you’re not a commissioner on a grand a day, you can’t imagine losing eight grand a year.
Solidarity action
Birmingham’s attacks could have ramifications for all council workers across the country. Already, Unite is balloting bin workers in Wrexham over forced changes to their overtime agreement.
Mass solidarity action is needed. Unite should initiate a ‘council of war’ with the other council unions in Birmingham, including Unison. Issues such as the pay and grading re-evaluation, attacks to sickness policy, and the reintroduction of performance management, can all be the basis to build a campaign across all council workers. Holding departmental members’ meetings in workplaces, with bin workers invited to speak, can explain why solidarity is needed.
‘Mega-picket’
This must then be taken out to the whole city and surrounding areas. At least 15 unions supported the ‘mega-picket’ on 25 July, and Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright has sent a message of support and spoken out in the media. Jeremy Corbyn also spoke in support.
A national Saturday solidarity demonstration in Birmingham would give the opportunity to mobilise a citywide campaign, calling on the whole trade union movement and local community, as well as any councillors and MPs willing to stand with the workers. Unite must name the date.
A Saturday demonstration could also be a statement of intent. To raise the idea of solidarity action by workers across Birmingham, effectively a potential citywide general strike, to face down the Labour council’s attempt to inflict a defeat on the bin workers and Unite.
Striking bin worker Mike Masters said: “This strike is being compared to the past (the 1980s miners’ strike). I’d like to think this strike will shape our future”.
Next year will be the first council elections in Birmingham for four years. Unite and the bin workers should prepare to back and stand candidates who support the strikers.
Rob Williams, Socialist Party industrial organiser speaking at the picket
Photos from the megapicket
