Agency staff drafted in to keep services running during Birmingham’s bin strike have joined picket lines after staging their own walk-out amid disputed claims of bullying and harassment.

The protests, including one attended by around 200 pickets at the Smithfield depot, near Birmingham city centre, prompted Birmingham City Council to suspend all bin collections on Monday.

Speaking at the demonstration in Pershore Street, Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said around 40 agency workers had joined the protests because of health and safety and other concerns.

Mr Kasab, who said video evidence of a “blacklisting threat” had been supplied to the council, said: “What we have got is the dispute actually escalating – more and more people joining the strike.”

Birmingham City Council has des

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