6 months of bad rubbish
By Traceyjayne
@Traceyjayne (5249)
United Kingdom
September 11, 2025 8:07am CST
So here in the UK ….in Birmingham ….the bin men have been on strike for 6 months now. As you would expect the strike is because they want more money. Birmingham council have recently gone bankrupt, so I’m not sure where they think the extra money would come from ……oh yes, everyone would have to pay more in taxes !
I am also aware that the driver of the truck gets £45,000 a year……not too shabby for a driver, if you ask me !
Meanwhile there is 6 months of rubbish just lying around, bringing health issues and vermin.
Surely in this day and age it can’t be right.
Personally, I don’t think they should be allowed to strike …..nor Police, Dr’s or Firefighters …..
What are your thoughts on the matter ?
6 people like this
5 responses
@DaddyEvil (159703)
• United States
11 Sep
The city could look around for private contractors to haul the rubbish away and each household pay for it that way instead of increasing taxes. Or haul off your own trash each week. Of course, then you'd have to find another city to haul it to and pay them to get rid of your trash.
@Traceyjayne (5249)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep
No money to pay contractors. Households are already paying to have rubbish removed ….by the bin men …they shouldn’t have to pay twice. Birmingham is a large city, folks couldn’t take their own rubbish.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (159703)
• United States
11 Sep
@Traceyjayne I agree, you shouldn't have to pay twice... Would you prefer to be sick from all the rubbish left lying everywhere, though? It sounds like you WILL be paying, though, either by giving the bin men a raise or by taking your own garbage somewhere else.
@Traceyjayne (5249)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep
@DaddyEvil I don’t think it should have got to this state to be honest ….if I was in charge, I would have dealt with it long before now. People’s health should not be put at risk.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (200757)
• United States
12 Sep
I think they should go back to work. In US $ 45,000 pounds is a GREAT wage for a driver.
@snowy22315 (196042)
• United States
11 Sep
That's a tough one. When it comes to matters of public health, I think those strikes shouldn't be allowed. Something clearly has to be done.
@Traceyjayne (5249)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep
I agree that people in certain jobs should not be allowed to strike. This is making people ill and bringing in rats …
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14335)
• Ireland
11 Sep
@traceyjayne Pity you can't just hold back the portion of your rates that pays for rubbish collection then everyone in the street could club together to pay someone to do what's not being done even though you're paying for it. I suppose people are trying to cut down on generating too much rubbish. I hear that Lord Mandelson is looking for a job, maybe he'd like to be a volunteer binman for a while.
@Traceyjayne (5249)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep
That’s the thing isn’t it ….they have made sure they are still taking the proportion of the money that should be used for this purpose. Birmingham is such a large area it would take more than people clubbing together, and you know that some wouldn’t get involved anyway.
I’m sure Handy Mandy would be at home amongst all the rubbish !
@JudyEv (362940)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
Certainly something needs to be done to get the rubbish shifted but if the council has no money .... 
