Angela Rayner SUSPENDED by trade union Unite as Birmingham bin crisis deepens

Angela Rayner has been suspended by trade union Unite as tensions rise over the Birmingham bin strike.

Unite has said it will also consider its relationship with the Labour Party over its stance in the long-running dispute. In a scathing message leader Sharon Graham accused the deputy PM of backing a "rogue council" that had smeared its workers.

But The Mirror understands that Ms Rayner had resigned her membership several months ago. In a scathing statement Ms Graham took aim at her, stating: "Unite is crystal clear it will call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette.

"Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.

"The disgraceful actions of the government and a so-called Labour council, is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises.

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"People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer not workers."

Ms Rayner sparked anger when she urged workers to accept a pay deal in order to end the “misery and disruption” affecting people living in the UK's second largest city.

In an emergency motion at the union's policy conference in Brighton, members condemned Birmingham’s Labour council and the Labour government for not backing bin workers in the long-running dispute.

Birmingham council leader John Cotton and fellow Unite Birmingham councillors have also had their Unite membership suspended.

The industrial action, which started in January, followed the council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles. Unite claims 170 workers face losing up to £8,000 a year as a result of the move.

The local authority disputed this, but admitted some workers would lose out, including 17 whose pay would be cut by £6,000.

The action could pose a serious problem to Labour, with the union among the party's biggest donors. In the first half of 2025 it donated more than £400,000, and has previously ploughed millions of pounds into its coffers.

On Friday the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “Our priority is and always has been, Birmingham's residents.

"As you know, Unite’s industrial action caused disruption to waste collection. We have worked intensively with the council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets for the residents, for public health. We remain in close contact with the council, and continue to monitor the situation as we support its recovery and transformation.”

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