Union cuts Labour funding by 40% over bin strike

The union Unite has voted to cut the affiliation fee it pays to Labour by 40% over the party's actions relating to striking bin workers in Birmingham.

The union said the £580,000 decrease was unprecedented, and revealed the anger of its members a year on from the start of all-out industrial action in the city.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on."

The dispute initially began over Birmingham City Council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer posts, and negotiations between Unite and the Labour-controlled authority have so far failed to reach a solution.

Historically, the union has been the Labour Party's biggest affiliate, but this has been cut in recent years.

Unite said it would be escalating the Birmingham bin strike because "the actions of Labour against the Birmingham bin workers will not continue to be tolerated".

It said residents and workers suffered while the council "dither around a deal already scoped out at conciliation service Acas".

The union has been contacted for further details of the escalation.

The council has previously said it would start with a new waste collection regime in the summer, even if strike action continued.