In Birmingham, the second largest city in England, rats feeding on decaying waste piles during the garbage collection strike have led to warnings of a public health crisis. With the prolonged dispute ongoing, a resolution is yet to be seen.

The disagreement between the Birmingham City Council and the union over issues of work, wages, and working conditions led to garbage collectors going on strike. While Unite union has long been an ally of the Labour Party that holds the majority in the city council under the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, it has recently been increasingly critical of the government. Starmer’s firm stance against the strike has strained relations with Unite, one of the UK’s largest unions. As a result of the strike, garbage piles started accumulating along the city’s roadsides.

LEAD TO RAT INFESTATION
The waste piles accumulating along the roadsides also led to a rat infestation. Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his concerns about public health in a statement earlier this week. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also said in a speech in parliament that they are working to end this “misery”.

UNION OBJECTIONS TO MUNICIPAL CUTS
The council had stated that it had to make cuts in local spending after announcing its virtual bankruptcy by 2023. The Unite union, representing the workers, argues that this move prevented wage increases for workers and reduced some staff’s ranks, resulting in cuts of up to £8,000 in annual salaries at worst. The council, on the other hand, claims to have made a fair offer and accuses the workers on strike of preventing garbage trucks from leaving depots.

Furthermore, it was reported that as of March 31, approximately 17,000 tons of waste remained uncollected throughout the city.