UNITE leader Sharon Graham has asked why councillors are not facing a 25 per cent pay cut after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged striking Birmingham bin collectors to accept an “improved” deal.

Members of the union launched an all-out strike last month in a bitter dispute over pay and jobs, which has led to the declaration of a public health emergency in the city.

As Ms Rayner, also Local Government Secretary, met with volunteers clearing up their area on Thursday, she said: “The people of Birmingham are our first priority — this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks.

“There is now a better offer on the table and I would urge Unite to suspend the action and accept the improved deal so we achieve fairness for both workers and residents of this city.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Whilst it is helpful that the government finally realised after weeks that they have a role in this dispute, the constant attacks and briefings against these low-paid bin workers is frankly a disgrace.

“This dispute is not about greed, or increased pay. This dispute is about workers losing up to £8,000 of their pay — which for some is almost a quarter.

“A notable point was made by one of our members, which Unite believes sums up where we are with this council and could be with others: ‘The council are saying that we should share the pain but not one councillor, including the leader, has been asked to give up a quarter of their pay.

“’We thought when Labour came in they would stop what was happening — we were wrong’.”