As Birmingham refuse workers continue industrial action, newly published figures from BBC Verify suggest the scale of the financial impact is now undeniable: bin workers stand to lose between £6,000 and £8,000 per year under current council proposals.
The dispute centres on the removal of the Waste Reduction Collection Officer (WRCO) role, which many workers currently occupy. According to Unite the Union, those affected would be reassigned to lower-paid loader roles, with a pay drop from the top of the WRCO scale (£32,654) to the bottom of the loader scale (£24,027). That’s a difference of £8,627 — and even factoring in alternative council proposals, workers could still lose at least £6,000 annually.
The council disputes Unite’s figure, claiming “no one will lose £8,000,” but accepts that some workers will face a cut of “just over £6,000.” Regardless of whose estimate is accepted, the loss is substantial — particularly in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
While Birmingham City Council maintains that employees can avoid the full impact through “alternative roles,” no firm public guarantee has been made about retaining spinal pay points or protecting individual income levels.
The system in question — the spinal point pay scale — means salary levels are typically tied to service length. But even here, the council has not clarified whether workers reassigned to junior roles will keep their current rate, or be pushed down the scale.
With up to £8,000 in wages on the line, this is more than a technical reshuffle. It’s a cut that could affect mortgages, food bills, childcare, and retirement contributions — all imposed without a meaningful guarantee of protection.
UWA continues to support all workers facing forced regrading or restructuring. If your role, pay or contract is being changed, you have the right to seek advice and challenge what’s being proposed.
Need help? Contact us today http://unitedworkersalliance.co.uk/contact-us/
Original BBC article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89gd90ny9xo