William Downs, Birmingham Socialist Party
Supporters of the Birmingham bin strikers, including members of the Socialist Party, successfully carried out a blockade in the Tyseley area. Meeting discreetly in Small Heath, activists moved swiftly to block vehicles transporting waste into the nearby incinerator, and council bin lorries attempting to leave, causing major disruption to council operations. The blockade was the first to target an external site still receiving or processing council waste during the ongoing strike.
This surprise action sent a strong message to Birmingham City Council that workers and communities will not tolerate the use of scab labour or backdoor strike-breaking tactics. The blockade demonstrated how coordinated solidarity action can lift the mood of picket lines and increase pressure on the council.
There is real potential for similar actions across the city, following the successful blocking of crews working for scab company Tom White, owned by Coventry City Council. Local trade union branches could mobilise and get workers in other trade unions down to future blockades. Solidarity and escalation are essential to win this fight.
