Exact date of next bin strike crunch talks as hopes rest on imminent resolution
Hopes for an end to Birmingham's all-out bin strikes are pinned on the involvement of conciliation talks hosted by public body ACAS from next week
The exact date of crunch talks that could bring an end to the long-running bin strikes has been confirmed - and an independent public body will be working to help Birmingham City Council and Unite reach an agreement.
The independent public body ACAS the (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) will be holding conciliation talks between the council and Unite members next week, bringing fresh hope for an end to the city's seven-week all out bin strike.
Acas is funded by the government and is used by employers and employees to improve relationships and solve workplace disputes. Acas told BirminghamLive they will be meeting with council and Unite leaders on Thursday May 1.
READ MORE: Birmingham bin strike latest - all we know ahead of crunch mediation talks
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A spokesperson for the public body also told us that the talks come under collective conciliation, which is slightly different to mediation.
Thursday's talks will be hosted by Acas' director of dispute resolution Kevin Rowan, who came into his role in January 2025.
Kevin's job is to lead Acas's work across the country to resolve workplace disputes and previously worked at the TUC as head of organising, services and learning.
According to Acas figures for 2023 to 2024, the public body conciliated in over 600 collective disputes and resolved or progressed 94 percent of them.
Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, Kevin Rowan, told BirminghamLive: “We can confirm that Birmingham City Council and Unite have agreed to Acas conciliation talks to help them resolve the current dispute involving refuse workers.
"The talks are scheduled to take place on 1 May.”
Kevin will be carrying out what's called 'collective conciliation' - which is when they meet with both sides to try to come to an agreement and settle the dispute.
In the room will be Acas, Birmingham City Council leaders and Unite the union.
Birmingham bin workers who are members of Unite, began strike action in January over the scrapping of a waste recycling and collection officer role, which the union described as "safety-critical".
The walkout then escalated into all-out industrial action on March 11.
However since Wednesday, which was when both sides last met, language like "good faith" and "positive negotiations" has been used ahead of Thursday's conciliation talks - prompting fresh hope of an end to industrial action.
While the council has cleared around 26,000 tonnes of excess waste from across the city, some Birmingham residents are still dealing with piles of rubbish and fly-tipping as a result.
You can read what Selly Park residents had to say about heaps of rubbish and an eye-watering stench greeting them each morning in our report from Thursday, here.
Latest from Unite and Birmingham City Council
Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “The council has dragged its feet, Unite has put forward clear proposals to solve the dispute that are in line with the council's needs.
"We will enter Acas talks in good faith, on the understanding the council will make good on its promise not to let workers lose pay.'
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Negotiations are ongoing and are positive. There has been agreement that there will be further discussions at the end of next week under the auspices of ACAS.”