Army called to rat-ridden Birmingham bin strike to tackle 'public health risk' (2025)

The all-out strike, which began on March 11 as part of a dispute over pay, has seen thousands of tonnes of rubbish go uncollected and warnings of a public health emergency

Military experts have been drafted in to deal with the escalating rubbish crisis in Birmingham as a bin strike leaves the city swamped in waste. The all-out strike, which started on March 11 due to a pay row, has resulted in thousands of tonnes of uncollected trash and sparked fears of a public health disaster.

A Government spokesperson announced that military planners were called upon "in light of the ongoing public health risk". They clarified that the deployment would involve a "small number of office-based military personnel with operation planning expertise".

Birmingham City Council had previously sought help from nearby councils.

These military officers won't be hitting the streets for rubbish collection. Instead, they'll be lending their logistical prowess temporarily to help navigate the mess, reports the Mirror.

The Government spokesperson elaborated: "The Government has already provided a number of staff to support the council with logistics and make sure the response on the ground is swift to address the associated public health risks. In light of the ongoing public health risk, a small number of office-based military personnel with operational planning expertise have been made available to Birmingham City Council to further support in this area.

"This builds on a range of measures we've supported the council on to date – including neighbouring authorities providing additional vehicles and crews, and opening household waste centres to Birmingham residents."

Bin workers from the Unite union downed tools on March 11, sparking significant public health worries as mounds of rubbish accumulated on Birmingham's streets. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner called on Unite members to take an "improved" offer, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting declared the strike had "escalated way out of hand".

The standoff has only intensified the friction between Labour and Unite, with the union's General Secretary Sharon Graham hitting back at "the constant attacks and briefings against these low-paid bin workers". She clarified: "It is important to reiterate the truth, as opposed to the lies being peddled in an attempt to distract. This dispute is not about greed or increased pay. This dispute is about workers losing up to £8,000 of their pay – which for some is almost a quarter."

The council counters that merely 17 workers are impacted, with losses far below what Unite alleges. Ms Graham highlighted that a provisional agreement on safeguarding wages for some employees was in place and pressed the council to consider a broader proposal from the union.

A fresh vote on a potential deal to halt the strike is slated for Monday.

Ms Rayner, who also serves as the Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, stated: "The people of Birmingham are our first priority – this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks.

My department is working with Birmingham City Council to support its response to accelerate clearing the backlog and rapidly improve the situation on the ground.

Despite the council declaring a major incident, mounds of uncollected rubbish continue to rot. Residents have reported sightings of rats as large as cats amidst the waste.

Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus said: "While Keir Starmer probably didn't dream of becoming the nation's chief bin collector, the public's appetite for government intervention might force that role upon him."

Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton has spoken out, saying: "I would reiterate we have made a fair and reasonable offer to our workers which means none of them have to lose any money and I would urge Unite to reconsider their position.

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