THE dispute between Birmingham City Council and its refuse workers has escalated after new strikes against blacklisting were announced yesterday.

Unite members in charge of waste disposal will begin striking two days every week from Tuesday February 19 until late March.

The dispute is related to claims that workers face being blacklisted for taking part in the 2017 bin strike, which lasted for three months.

It was discovered in November 2018 that workers who did not participate in the strike received secret payments from the council.

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “The decision to escalate the dispute and begin strike action is a direct result of Birmingham council’s failure to treat our members fairly.

“This dispute is entirely of Birmingham council’s making and it is in the council’s hands to come forward with a solution to end the discrimination experienced by Unite members.”