A sticker supporting the strikes on a bin as agency refuse workers collect rubbish in the Saltley area of Birmingham, January 6, 2026UNITE is to cut its Labour affiliation by £580,000 amid anger over the long-running Birmingham bin strike, the union announced today.
Members of Unite began a continuous walkout on March 11 last year over cuts to their pay, with little sign of a breakthrough.
A year on, the union said the council “dither[s] around a deal” as streets fill with rubbish and residents and workers suffer.
Unite said it decided to substantially cut its affiliation by 40 per cent ahead of its rules conference next year, and will now formally consult with its members on whether they want to remain Labour-affiliated.
It said it made clear that the actions of Labour against the workers “will not continue to be tolerated.”
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