I rarely use X, (formerly Twitter) for work, but I must have somehow misled – and as a result upset someone at some stage recently - as I was slated for not understanding the role of the cleaner and how hard these stalwarts of civilised society work. I can’t tell you what I’d said to upset him, or repeat his words here, as he’s since deleted his comment. My response to it though, was: “Bit confused... I champion cleaners & tell friends (& CZ readers) to chat to them & thank them for their crucial hard work. If cleaners downed tools, society would soon be in chaos! Qualified cleaner myself & both daughters did cleaning work 2hrs, 5 eves a week through college”. 

  

Very little could illustrate my point more than @bordeselygreen’s comment which I’ve seen today, along with & montage of pics depicting the Birmingham refuse workers’ strike: “I’ve lent my wheelie bin to my neighbour; we haven’t had our bins emptied for 17 days now. His elderly father has incontinence and the bins are overflowing with pads. There is a public health crisis looming.” @PeterBritish shared a telling video too, accompanied by the comment: “Stinking piles of rubbish are building up in Birmingham as bin men walk out over pay and role. Can you think of a more essential service?” Says it all, doesn’t it? 

Scarily, the chaos could continue long-term, after the workers voted to extend the strike over the council’s use of temporary labour to counter the action, (it’s unlawful to provide labour to replace striking workers). On Tuesday, nearly 400 began an indefinite strike over the scrapping of the waste collection and recycling officer role, which has – according to their Union - impacted 150 workers with pay cuts of up to £8,000 - although this number is refuted by the Council. “Removing the role affects the rest of the low paid workforce by leaving them without a fair path for pay progression,” argues the Union. Most Birmingham refuse workers are paid between £24,027 and £25,992 – slightly more than the £23,795 workers on the minimum wage, earn annually. The workers already accepted cuts to pay, terms and conditions to assist the Council after it declared bankruptcy. The Council says that better alternatives at equal pay have been offered; that the changes are being made to bring the service into line with national practice whereby more than 50 councils across the country operate a waste service with a driver and two loaders. Your thoughts please?