UNITE is to cut its Labour affiliation by £580,000 amid anger over the long-running Birmingham bin strike, the union announced today.

Members of Unite began a continuous walkout on March 11 last year over cuts to their pay, with little sign of a breakthrough.

A year on, the union said the council “dither[s] around a deal” as streets fill with rubbish and residents and workers suffer.

Unite said it decided to substantially cut its affiliation by 40 per cent ahead of its rules conference next year, and will now formally consult with its members on whether they want to remain Labour-affiliated.

It said it made clear that the actions of Labour against the workers “will not continue to be tolerated.”

“Labour’s incompetent behaviour in Birmingham has come on the back of a failed economic strategy that has left our industrial base fighting for its life,” the union said in a statement.

“Oil and gas workers facing decimation, buy British defence promises broken, the public sector undervalued, and the elderly and disabled under attack.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members are coming to the end of the line as far Labour is concerned.

“Workers are scratching their heads, asking whose side are Labour on, who do they really represent, because it certainly isn’t workers. Workers and communities are paying the price.

“The cut in affiliation fee shows the anger of Unite members. Stop taking workers for granted, spine up, do your job and be real Labour.”

It comes as the council said it is delivering new bins to Birmingham residents as it prepares to roll out reforms to the refuse collection service.

The union said the plans will lead to hundreds of its members losing thousands of pounds.

The council has denied the claim.

Birmingham City Councillor Majid Mahmood said the council has made a series of offers to Unite to end the strike, adding that changes will happen regardless of the industrial action.

A Labour Party spokesperson said it is “proud to be funded by our dedicated party members, affiliated supporters, trade union members and party donors.

“The Labour government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation to address low pay, insecure work and poor working conditions, which will benefit 15 million workers across the country,” they said.