'Productive' talks raise hopes of an end to crisis

PROGRESS BEING MADE BUT 'STILL NUMBER OF ISSUES' SAYS COUNCIL

- JAYNE THOMSON

TALKS aimed at resolving Birmingham's bin strike were continuing yesterday after previous discussions were described as "productive".

It raises hopes that a solution to the deadlock may be close.

Members of Unite in Birmingham walked out last month in a dispute over pay and jobs, leading to rubbish piling up on the city's streets.

The two sides have been holding a series of meetings over several days in a bid to break the deadlock.

Following the latest round of talks on Tuesday, a Birmingham City Council spokesman, said: "The talks with Unite were productive, but there are still a number of issues to resolve. We are looking forward to continuing with negotiations."

A Unite spokesman said: "Unite is continuing to engage in intensive talks with the council on behalf our members in the refuse service.

"No resolution has yet been reached but Unite has put forward a range of fair and reasonable solutions to bring this dispute to an end."

With the sensitivity surrounding the issue, a council debate about the bin strike crisis affecting every single resident of Birmingham was 'banned' by the council's Labour leader, to the fury of opposition members.