Union's '2-faced' blast as latest talks stumble

THE latest talks between Birmingham City Council and Unite to end the city's devastating bins strike failed, and apparently in acrimony.

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

Wednesday's negotiations ended with the union claiming the council was "failing to come clean" about the true fate of its bin workers a claim which the authority denied.

The union claims demanded a written guarantee that bin workers will not face financial losses as a result of current and future reviews of job roles - but none was forthcoming.

It says that is at odds with public statements by council leader John Cotton, who has said none of the threatened waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) workers needed to "lose out,' a position he has maintained through the negotiations and reiterated in media interviews.

The disappointing outcome means it will be after Easter before there is any hope of an end to the bitter dispute that is pitting around 400 bin workers against the biggest council in Europe, backed up by the Labour government.