The ongoing dispute involving refuse collectors in Birmingham has escalated, prompting calls for government intervention as the strike continues to affect waste collection in one of the UK's largest cities.

Members of the Unite union commenced an all-out strike last month over issues concerning pay and job security, resulting in significant amounts of rubbish accumulating in the streets, raising public health concerns among residents.

Earlier this week, Birmingham City Council designated the dispute as a major incident, aiming to facilitate an increase in the collection of bin sacks as the situation worsens.

Unite's General Secretary, Sharon Graham, has reached out to the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, urging the government to take a proactive stance in the negotiations.

Graham criticized the ongoing discussions with the council, describing them as a "charade" due to the council's reliance on commissioners assigned by the previous Conservative government to manage its finances.

In her correspondence, Graham stressed the importance of government involvement, stating, "This is an escalating issue and the Government cannot simply sit on its hands saying 'nothing to do with us.'" She pointed out that the pay cuts affecting the workers are implemented by a Labour-led council, emphasizing the urgency of the dispute.

A spokesperson for the government acknowledged the distress caused to residents due to the waste dispute and encouraged a prompt resolution.

They emphasized the significance of a locally led response for council services while indicating that the government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide additional support if necessary.

Government Minister Lucy Powell called on Unite to prioritize discussions with the council to reach a resolution.

She expressed her familiarity with the adverse conditions in Birmingham, having visited the area recently, and stated that the current rubbish accumulation is "totally unacceptable."

Powell encouraged the trade union to engage in negotiations, emphasizing that a reasonable agreement exists and should be acted upon swiftly.

The situation has drawn political scrutiny, with Shadow Commons Leader Jesse Norman commenting that the ongoing circumstances in Birmingham are untenable.

He questioned the government’s reluctance to openly criticize Unite, alluding to significant financial contributions from the union to Labour candidates during the last general election.

With negotiations still ongoing, the local community continues to be impacted by the unresolved dispute, raising concerns about public health and safety.