'Too late' to call off bin strike

A dustcart blockade brought traffic chaos to the city centre in July

A union has said it is too late to call off a strike by refuse workers in Brighton next week, even if the council makes a revised pay offer this weekend.

About 250 refuse and recycling workers are due to stop work for a week in the city from 0530 GMT on Monday.

Further planned stoppages could see no waste collected in Brighton and Hove this month, the GMB union said.

Brighton council said it had plans to deal with any disruption but it still hoped the strike could be averted.

A statement from Brighton and Hove City council said: "The council has comprehensive plans to deal with any ongoing disruption to waste services and we would implement those should it become necessary.

"We would also keep residents informed about how the council would deal with any serious disruption.

'Massive disruption'

"However, we remain hopeful this will not be necessary and that talks will resume with the GMB union so that the proposed strike can be averted."

GMB spokesman Mark Turner also said the union still hoped for a fresh offer from the local authority.

But he added: "The action [on Monday] cannot now be postponed."

The union has said the strike is over a "levelling down" of pay.

On Thursday, workers began a work-to-rule in protest at council plans to cut their wages by up to £8,000 each.

The GMB union balloted members last month over the disagreement on pay proposals.

After 96% of its members who voted were in favour of taking industrial action, it threatened "massive disruption" to refuse collections, street cleaning and other services.

At the time, Brighton council said it was committed to fair pay and had improved its offer.

A dustcart blockade brought traffic chaos to the city centre in July