Despite the bloody war raging in Sudan between the country’s two major militias—the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces—bin workers in Sudan have sent a powerful message of solidarity to their counterparts in Birmingham, UK.

Bin workers represented by Unite the Union in Birmingham have been on indefinite strike since March. The dispute began in January after the almost bankrupt Birmingham City Council announced plans to scrap the role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO), a move that would slash thousands of pounds from workers’ pay. The strikers have received massive support from the trade union movement, culminating in a mass picket today attended by hundreds of workers and supporters from across the UK trade union movement and civil society organisations. Dozens of banners filled the picket lines, and speakers from various unions and organisations voiced strong support for the strikers, condemning the Labour government’s continued attacks on working-class people.

After weeks of picket lines and walkouts, today the workers escalated their action—shutting down the plant entirely in what marks a significant victory for the strike – a proof that solidarity works and is important.

MENA Solidarity obtained a solidarity message from the Sudanese Workers Alliance for the Restoration of Trade Unions (SWARTU) and the Demands-Based Campaigns (TAM), issued on behalf of Sudanese bin workers.

Khalid Sidahmed, from the MENA Solidarity editorial board, addressed the picket line, emphasising the need to build stronger grassroots solidarity and resistance. He linked the struggle in Birmingham to the global arms trade and imperialist wars, and highlighted how successive British governments have weaponised racism and austerity to divide and weaken the working class.

Solidarity knows no borders – Sidahmed said.

The government’s oppression doesn’t stop at home—it extends abroad, where it supports and is complicit in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the destruction of entire nations.

The victory of the Birmingham bin workers is a victory for the whole working class. Their defeat would be a loss for all of us

He read out the message from Sudanese bin workers and distributed printed copies on the picket line.

Here is the message:

Take action:

• Access our Stop the War in Sudan toolkit and sign the postcard addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the British government to support the Sudanese people.
• Share this motion with your union branch and advocate for its adoption: Model Motion – Stand with Sudan: Stop the War, Support the People
• Download / order our newly released “Sudan’s Revolutionary and Popular Movements: a research report”. 

Download resources:

• ‘Sudan’s Militia War on the People’ Sudan Update April 2025 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Reject both sides in Sudan’s war’ Sudan Update February 2025 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Famine is the new war’ Sudan Update September 2024 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Stopping Sudan’s hidden war’ Sudan Update March 2024 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Why is there a war in Sudan?’ Sudan Update May 2023 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Stop the war in Sudan’ Sudan Update April 2023 – download the leaflet >>here
• Stop the war in Sudan / Refugees welcome A4 poster – download >>here