Birmingham faces escalating bin strikes as refuse workers begin an indefinite walkout over disputes with the city council. Residents are dealing with overflowing rubbish and increasing rat infestations, prompting urgent calls for resolution.
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00:00The streets of Birmingham are filling with rubbish. Since January, bin workers have been
00:08striking over the council's plan to remove a safety-critical role. This week, the strikes
00:13have intensified into an all-out indefinite action. Residents in areas like Borsal Heath,
00:19Aston, Selly Park, Northfield and here on Beach Road in Sparkhill are seeing piles of
00:24uncollected waste. Overflowing bins are attracting pests and creating foul smells. Communities
00:30such as Selly Oak are struggling with overflowing recycling bins and rubbish bags lining the
00:35streets. The unpleasant odour is a constant reminder of the ongoing issue. In Allens Cross,
00:41residents report rats the size of feet inviting their neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, pest control
00:46services say they've seen a surge in call-outs as infestations spread. Some residents claim
00:52they haven't had a collection since mid-February, with litter now spilling onto pavements. The
00:58council argues that the role in question is no longer necessary and that changes are part
01:02of a needed transformation of the service. They claim to have made a fair offer to Unite
01:08and suggest that only a small number of workers are affected by the changes. However, Unite
01:14maintains that the role is essential for safety and that the strike has significant support
01:19from residents. As rubbish continues to pile up, the health and safety of Birmingham's
01:24communities are at risk. Both sides remain at an impasse, leaving residents caught in
01:29the middle. With no sign of an agreement, fears are growing over how much worse the
01:33situation could get. The need for a swift resolution has never been more urgent.