THE third “megapicket” organised by Strike Map during the Birmingham bin strike shut down every refuse site in England’s second city today.

The Unite members began striking last January over plans to cut up to £8,000 cuts from their salaries, and have struck continuously since March.

The failure to settle has cost at least £33 million, according to council estimates.

Addressing the crowds, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell MP said: “It is shameful that this is a Labour council.

“Get around the table and start negotiations. 

“These [government-appointed] commissioners, they should’ve been sacked months ago.

“What I find offensive is, you look at the pay cut they’ve tried to inflict, and then how much they’re earning on a daily basis. 

“It’s money most people couldn’t dream of, and yet they sit there trying to dictate how the city should be run.

“You’re going to win this dispute. And I will be proud in the future to say I was there.”

Your Party MP Zarah Sultana told the crowds: “You’re being threatened with fire-and-rehire. You’re facing bullying, intimidation, and the threat of blacklisting simply for doing your jobs and standing up for yourselves. That is not how workers should ever be treated.”

She slammed the council for treating the workers “with cuts, insecurity and contempt…this Labour council even tried to undermine your strike by bringing in agency workers.

“This dispute was never inevitable and it doesn’t need to drag on. Birmingham City Council could end it today.

“This is a Labour council under a Labour government — a government that claims to stand up for working people while quietly watering down the Employment Rights Bill because it is in bed with bad bosses and millionaire donors. 

“Working-class people deserve more than empty promises.”

Strike Map co-founder Henry Fowler said: “Our megapickets are growing with every action we take.

“This strike has united three political parties, the labour movement and the people of Birmingham in condemning the cuts imposed by this council and its commissioners. We want to be absolutely clear: we will be back again, and again, and again until these workers win. We stand with the Birmingham bin strikers.”