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Bin strikes likely to spread to multiple UK towns and cities amid rubbish crisis

Friday, 18 April 2025 12:04AM UTC

Following Birmingham’s severe rubbish collection crisis and strike action, bookmakers predict a high likelihood of bin strikes spreading to at least 11 other UK towns and cities, including London, Leeds, and Peterborough, amid continuing disputes over pay and job roles.

Bookmakers are now placing odds on which towns and cities across the UK are most likely to experience bin strikes following the severe rubbish collection crisis in Birmingham. The city has become overwhelmed by 21,000 tons of uncollected waste, with reports of rats proliferating amidst the mounting refuse on the streets. This ongoing industrial action, driven by disputes over pay and job roles, has prompted warnings from union leaders that similar strikes could spread to other local authorities struggling with budget constraints.

According to betideas.com, there is considerable concern that the strike action may extend beyond Birmingham to at least 11 other towns and cities where the likelihood of refuse collectors walking out is now odds-on. London faces a 60% chance (odds of 4/6) of strikes, while Leeds shows a slightly higher probability at 64% (4/7 odds). Peterborough stands out as a city where strike action is described by bookmakers as "looking certain," with a 75% chance (1/3 odds). This follows ongoing pay disputes between the Cambridgeshire council and union representatives.

Other northern cities such as Liverpool and Newcastle are also predicted to likely experience bin strikes, both quoted at 10/11 odds by bookmakers, signalling high probability. Additional areas at risk include Manchester, Hull, Brighton, Cardiff, Derby, Nottingham, York, Oxford, and Norwich, bringing the total number of places under threat to over twenty.

Shane Orton of betideas.com commented on the situation, saying: "We’ve all seen the disgusting images from Birmingham after more than four months of bin strikes and we reckon those same scenes are coming to a town or city near you very soon. The Unite union has already warned that strike action could well spread across the country and they’re on course to hit the nine million people living in London."

Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham confirmed her readiness to sanction further strike actions should councils continue policies she views as unfair towards low-paid workers. Speaking on the prospect of widespread industrial action, she stated: "Well, if other councils decide to make low-paid workers pay for bad decisions that they did not make, workers paying the price yet again, then absolutely. Of course we all have to take action in those other areas."

Supporting this perspective, Unite’s national lead officer Onay Kasab warned that the strikes could expand if other local authorities attempt to reduce pay for essential public service workers. He remarked: "If the pay of public service workers is attacked in other local authorities then we shouldn’t be surprised when people take action."

The root of the Birmingham strike lies in the council’s removal of the role of "waste recycling and collection officer," which Unite claims would financially disadvantage around 150 workers by as much as £8,000. The Birmingham City Council, however, disputes the scale of the impact, stating fewer employees would be affected and the losses would be less severe. The council’s move is part of a wider cost-cutting programme following its effective declaration of bankruptcy in 2023.

In an effort to alleviate the ongoing crisis, the UK Government has deployed Army logistics experts to assist with rubbish collection. Yet the situation remains dire and politically contentious. Shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake described the circumstances as a "total mess," accusing unions of acting as the Government’s "puppet master."

Below are the full odds for bin strikes across various UK locations as provided by betideas.com:

Peterborough: 1/3
Rotherham: 1/2
Barnsley: 8/15
Leeds: 4/7
Luton: 4/7
Bradford: 8/13
London: 4/6
Leicester: 8/11
Blackpool: 4/5
Liverpool: 10/11
Newcastle: 10/11
Hull: Evens
Southampton: Evens
Manchester: 11/10
Brighton: 6/5
Cardiff: 5/4
Derby: 5/4
Southend: 11/8
Cambridge: 7/4
York: 7/4
Oxford: 15/8
Norwich: 2/1
Nottingham: 5/2

The brewing industrial unrest has significant implications for public services nationwide, with many local authorities facing difficult decisions amid financial pressures. The developments are ongoing and are being closely monitored by residents and officials alike.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yceiv6jgOs - This source confirms the severe rubbish collection crisis in Birmingham with over 21,000 tonnes of uncollected waste, the strike starting on March 11, 2025, and the industrial action stemming from pay and job role disputes, with reports of rat infestations and public health concerns escalating, as stated in the article.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/14/angela-rayner-deal-not-end-bin-strikes-unite-warns/ - This article supports the claim that the bin strikes could spread beyond Birmingham across the UK, with union leaders warning of further industrial action, matching the statements attributed to Unite union representatives and the prediction of strikes spreading to other councils.
https://www.betideas.com - betideas.com provides the detailed odds on the likelihood of bin strikes in various UK towns and cities including London, Leeds, Peterborough, Liverpool, Newcastle, and others, corroborating the article's specific betting odds and statements about the risk levels in these locations.
https://www.uniteunion.org.uk/news-events/news/strike-threat-birmingham/ - Unite union official statements from this source verify the dispute over the removal of the 'waste recycling and collection officer' role and the potential pay losses for around 150 workers, as well as confirming union readiness to sanction further strikes if councils pursue unfair pay policies.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/123/birmingham_city_council_response_to_bin_strike - This official Birmingham City Council statement disputes the scale of pay losses and number of affected workers, explains the cost-cutting measures following the council’s financial troubles in 2023, and outlines the council’s stance on the ongoing waste crisis.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative references ongoing events such as the rubbish crisis in Birmingham with current strike actions and pay disputes reported in 2023 and 2024, including the recent involvement of army logistics and union statements. There is no indication that it recycles older news; the context reflects very recent industrial action and local government financial crises. The mention of Birmingham's 2023 effective bankruptcy confirms timeliness. No evidence found that this is a press release. The freshness is therefore high.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes by Shane Orton of betideas.com, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, and Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab are given. The quotes align with publicly known union positions and union leaders' recent statements reported in media on related strikes. No exact earlier source was identified online for these quotes, suggesting they may be original or recent direct comments to the narrative's originator. The absence of prior references supports a good originality score.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Star, a UK tabloid known for entertainment and sensational news rather than in-depth investigative journalism. While it reports factual strike and labour disputes, the source is less authoritative than major outlets like BBC or Reuters. This lowers the certainty somewhat, though facts can be cross-verified from union and council statements elsewhere. The bookmaker odds site betideas.com is cited directly, which is appropriate for betting market insights.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about bin strikes spreading from Birmingham due to pay disputes and job role changes are plausible given the UK's local government budget constraints and recent history of bin strikes in various cities. The odds placed by bookmakers reflect market sentiment consistent with union warnings and news reports. Government deployment of army logistics and political criticism also align with known recent events. No extraordinary or unverifiable claims are made.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative provides a timely and plausible account of spreading bin strikes in the UK with relevant quotes likely from original sources. Although originating from a less authoritative publication, the information aligns with publicly known facts and current labour disputes. There is no evidence of outdated or recycled news, and the bookmaker odds add a credible dimension to public concerns. Overall, the narrative is reliable and fresh.

bin strikes
rubbish collection
UK local government
unions
industrial action