Waste truck drivers in Birmingham learnt today that their positions will be downgraded and their pay will be reduced by thousands of pounds each year. It’s a major setback for the under-fire trash service personnel, and it appears to dash hopes for an end to the strike action that has damaged the city and sparked unfavourable headlines across the world. Around 200 drivers, largely men, were warned today, Tuesday, April 29, that their jobs would be ‘downgraded’ as part of Birmingham City Council’s equal pay assessment and appraisal exercise. The drivers, who are now designated as Grade 4 jobs, will be regraded to Grade 3. That would result in a massive wage decrease.
Driver team leaders, who navigate the trucks through the city’s streets, currently earn between £33,366 to £40,476, reflecting their skills and leader role. This will be dropped to between £26,409 to £32,654 – the current Grade 3 pay – if the proposal goes ahead.
The news has been circulating for weeks, with Unite the Union officials claiming that the city council was negotiating ‘in poor faith’ and refusing to address its plans for drivers, despite legitimate fears about their future. One waste worker who spoke with BirminghamLive this morning said it was a significant step back, demonstrating that the council had been’spinning lies’ to its employees.

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