Bin strike picket court order to continue indefinitely
BBCA court order preventing striking bin workers from delaying bin lorries leaving depots in Birmingham will continue indefinitely, it has been confirmed.
An interim injunction had been granted by the High Court on 23 May, after collections were said to have been disrupted by striking workers.
Responding to the latest ruling, Birmingham City Council said it was pleased the court had ratified the order agreed with Unite, leaving the injunction in place without a need for a court hearing.
Unite the Union had said it was preparing to challenge the court order, but added it had agreed to abide by the law on picketing and would continue to conduct a lawful, peaceful protest.
The council said on Friday it had sought the injunction after seeing "an increase in disruption" at depots, with "workers and vehicles being prevented from doing their job".
In a statement regarding the injunction continuing indefinitely, Birmingham City Council said: "This should ensure that vehicles are freely able to leave their depots and that workers are also able to continue to collect waste from the city.
"We have also agreed with Unite that the legal costs which the council incurred in securing the original injunction will be dealt with by the court at a later date."
They added: "As we have previously stated, we acknowledge that everyone has the right to protest and that Unite has the right to organise picketing in line with their statutory rights.
"The terms of the order which Unite has now agreed is designed to ensure that this is all done within the confines of the law.
"In the meantime, our efforts to resolve the underlying industrial dispute will also continue."
On Thursday morning, bin workers on the picket line at the Tyseley depot allowed trucks manned by agency staff to leave.
Police recently scaled down their presence on picket lines, where they had been helping to ensure bin trucks could leave to prevent waste piling up on city streets.
The West Midlands force withdrew after stating the issues did "not meet the threshold" to impose powers under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
The authority said it acknowledged people were entitled to protest and the union had the right to organise picketing. It added it was pleased Unite had agreed the injunction would continue "on an indefinite basis".
However, Unite said it believed the injunction should not have been granted.
"Unite was given no proper notice of the hearing and had no opportunity to present our side of the case," it said in a statement.
The union added it was gathering evidence and would consult lawyers to refer the matter back to the court for a "thorough review" on a later date.
Workers who are members of the union have been involved in all-out industrial action since 11 March in a pay row that now also includes a dispute over bin lorry drivers' wages.
Talks aimed at resolving the long-running strike have been taking place for weeks between the Labour-run council, the union and conciliation service Acas.
The last pay offer made by the council on 7 April was rejected by the union a week later.
On 23 May, when the injunction was granted, the city council said disruption at depots had led to a backlog of about 12,800 tonnes of waste.
The authority reported on its X account on Thursday that all of its available waste wagons had been deployed from its three depots.
At the Tyseley depot, there was a queue of lorries waiting to leave at about 06:45 BST on Thursday, as those on strike spent several minutes talking to each crew, explaining why they were on strike.
About 40 bin workers were on the picket line, with most gathered on the opposite side of the road.
The BBC's Bob Hockenhull said there was one police car on site, and described the atmosphere as "good humoured".
"There is no threats, no intimidation, we are happy to talk to the agency staff in the wagons," said Steve, who was on the picket line in Tyseley.
"But if they don't want, they're free to drive straight out. It's their choice to stop and talk or drive straight through."
Another striking bin worker, Wayne Bishop, added the action was "starting to hit my bank balance". "I'm glad I've got strong family and friends to help me if need be," he said.
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