A MASSIVE picket backing Birmingham’s striking bin workers brought all targeted waste sites to a standstill today.

The mobilisation, organised by Strike Map, was backed by 29 organisations from across the trade union movement, including the RMT, ASLEF, NEU, FBU, and the BMA.

The “Five Sites, One Day” picket targeted Atlas, Smithfield and Perry Barr waste depots, Veolia Incinerator, and Coventry’s Ryton site.

Strike Map co-founder Henry Fowler confirmed all sites were shut down in the action.

He said: “Mass picketing is back. The trade union movement has shown it is at its most powerful when it acts together. Workers supporting workers.”

Unite members launched industrial action in January after they were told they could face pay cuts of up to £8,000 under restructuring plans.

The dispute escalated to an all-out strike on March 11. 

Attending the picket, Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn told the crowd: “Birmingham is not isolated and Birmingham is not alone — the financial issues that affect Birmingham are actually there in almost every local authority in the country, particularly in the big urban cities.

“And those problems are that they have not enough money. The government is not spending enough money on local government.

“Local government services are under pressure and in many cases, even without the Birmingham model, still facing cuts.

“If we win in Birmingham and they are not allowed to cut wages, not allowed to destroy conditions, not allowed to damage the working rights of bin workers, that’s a huge victory.”

On Thursday, Birmingham City Council applied for contempt of court proceedings against Unite, claiming it had “persistent evidence” of a breach of a previously agreed court order.

A Unite spokesperson said: “The court application is the latest distraction from the real task of resolving the ongoing dispute.

“The court papers will be subject to a careful review and the interests of Unite and our members will be fully represented at any future hearing.”

A city council spokesperson said: “Our injunction prevents the blocking of our refuse collection vehicles, both at our depots and on the streets. 

“Despite writing repeatedly to Unite for several weeks to highlight what we believe to be clear breaches of the injunction, the situation has worsened.”