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Bin workers in Birmingham are striking, and rubbish is piling up across the two areas. Now people are asking, what do these workers earn for doing their job?
The crux of the matter, primarily, is to remove one position Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCOs) which get paid more than most of the bin crew.
What Are Bin Workers Usually Paid?
There is a salary which varies, depending on the individual role of bin work within the United Kingdom. The entry in the ONS database states that Refuse and salvage workers received an average of £26,543 during the year 2024, or just over £13 an hour. The worker minimum wage for those aged between 21 and 24 was set at £11.44 an hour in 2024.
As stated by the National Careers Service, household waste collectors usually earn around £24,000 to £30,000 each year, which translates to approximately £11.50 to £14.50 per hour depending on experience and responsibility.
Why Are Bin Workers on Strike in Birmingham?
The council will be taking out the WRCO position from the bin crews such that where previously bin crews consisted of two loaders, one driver and one WRCO under normal condition, they will now work on a three-member basis and without the WRCO position.
Pays on a larger scale between £26,409 and £32,654, and it is better in pay than a loader’s job. The workers’ union, Unite, claims it was “safety critical,” but the council does not agree with it. They insist that health and safety duties are a co-responsibility by all the team members.
Are Some Bin Workers Paid More?
Yes. The different average categories fall under heavy goods vehicle drivers in this discussion or hgvs-and drivers thus stand to enjoy higher average pay. About £38,337 per annum is the income from all over the UK. In Birmingham, however, the council pays them between £33,366 and £40,476.
Will Workers Lose a Lot of Their Pay?
So the question here is whether the amount of WRCO contract will cost workers more than £8,000 a year. This is something the council disagrees with because maximum loss would be around £6,000.
Usually, the union’s number is derived from what the currently highest paid WRCO would earn at the end of the scale of salaries-that is, £32,654-less what the lowest loader would make; that number is £24,027. But,
