Refuse workers have ‘overwhelmingly’ voted to reject an offer from Birmingham City Council to end the industrial action in the city.
Unite called the council’s offer ‘totally inadequate’ and said it does not protect employees from pay cuts.
Bin workers have been on strike since January over the council’s decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles.
Unite said staff performing the “safety-critical” WRCO role will lose around £8,000 a year if the plans are implemented.
The figure is disputed by the authority with an official in the council telling Circular Online that claims that 150 people could lose £8,000 a year in pay are “incorrect”.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said the deal’s rejection was “incredibly disappointing” but said its door remains open for negotiations.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the rejection of the offer was “no surprise”.
“From the start, the council has constantly moved the goalposts for these workers, prolonging the strikes in the process,” Graham said.
“The government must now call a meeting with the stakeholders to ensure these steps are taken to bring the strike to an end.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “We must also guard against future equal pay claims, and while we have sought throughout the negotiations to protect pay for individuals, Unite’s proposals focus solely on retaining a role that does not exist in other council’s and represents an equal pay risk for Birmingham.
“We have made a fair and reasonable offer and every employee affected by the removal of the WRCO role could take an equivalent graded role in the council, LGV Driver training or voluntary redundancy packages.”
