‘Megapicket’ shuts site in Birmingham Bin dispute

A ‘Megapicket’ has taken place at a Birmingham refuse depot after members of other unions and supporters of the striking bin workers there travelled from across the country to show their support. Bin workers belonging to Unite began an all-out strike on 11 March following a dispute with the city council over proposed changes to roles and pay cuts.

Hundreds of union members, who travelled on coaches from as far as Bristol and Leeds, arrived at the Lifford Lane depot in King’s Norton, Birmingham to stand in solidarity. As a result, the Megapicket shut down the depot.

Pete Randle, Unite organiser said,

“Today’s message is collective organisation across trade union movement shows the power unions have.”

The Megapicket has been organised in less than one week has been proven to be really effective tactic in supporting the strike.  Henry Fowler, co-founder of Strike Map said,

“This mobilisation is historic. The support for the Birmingham Bin Strike is rock solid on and off the picket line, victory to the workers!”

The Megapicket was  held at Lifford Lane Depot, Ebury Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3JJ, from 6am. Speeches started at 8am finished around 9.30.

Speakers included Kate Taylor (Birmingham National Education Union), Nina Barbosa (NHS Workers Say No), Mick Whelan (ASLEF), Pete Randle (UNITE), Steve Wright (FBU), Daniel Kebede (National Education Union), Onay Kasab (UNITE).

Speaking from the picket line, Derek Roberts, a bin lorry driver who has worked for the service for more than 30 years, said he was ” humbled and very grateful” to see the amount of people who had decided to join forces with his fellow Unite members.

“Knowing they’ve had to get up first thing in the morning and travel to support us has been fantastic.”