THE Unite union called out Birmingham City Council today over the ongoing bin strike negotiations, warning they would be much closer to a deal if the authority “put in writing what it is saying in public.”

More than 350 refuse workers have been on strike since March 11 over plans to cut the vital role of waste recycling collection officer (WRCO).

According to Unite, it will lead to 150 of its members having their pay slashed by up to £8,000 a year. 

On Monday, workers rejected the council’s latest offer. Unite said the proposal still involved substantial pay cuts and failed to address other potential wage reductions for 200 drivers.

Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said that the council made a “fair and reasonable offer that means that no-one has to lose any pay at all, with alternative roles offered within the service, or indeed a promotion to work as a driver.”

He tried again to reassure the public today, telling the BBC “we’re in a position where nobody needs to be losing income.”

But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said they appeared to be living in a “parallel universe.” 

She said: “Yet again, John Cotton is saying one thing in public while his local officers are saying another in the negotiating room and in writing. 

“If the council puts in writing what it says in public then we would likely be much closer to a deal.

“If John Cotton is being honest that no worker needs to lose income, the deal put forward by Unite should be accepted.

The Indian Workers Association (GB) said it stands in “full solidarity” with the workers, saying in a statement: “It is time for the council to stop shifting the blame onto the workers and to negotiate a fair, sustainable settlement that ensures the safety and dignity of all involved.”

Bin lorry driver Derek Roberts said: “We need to move the narrative away from the fact that it’s only this [WRCO] role that’s being deleted and that nobody else is affected.

“We’ve already been told as drivers that we will be next.

"We’re currently going through an evaluation process ourselves, which could potentially lead us to the same-sized pay cuts.

“We haven’t had anything from our employer to allay those fears.”

Birmingham City Council has been contacted for comment.