A strike by bin workers in Birmingham is set to rumble on after the latest offer by the city council was "overwhelmingly" rejected.
A spokesman from Unite said that "partial" offer was "totally inadequate" and did not properly address potential pay cuts for 200 drivers.
It comes as piles of rubbish remain stacked high on streets across Birmingham.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The rejection of the offer is no surprise as these workers simply cannot afford to take pay cuts of this magnitude to pay the price for bad decision after bad decision."
Overflowing bins in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham
PA
Graham continued: "From the start, the council has constantly moved the goalposts for these workers, prolonging the strikes in the process. First it was equal pay, then it was about improving the waste service, then cost cutting. The list goes on.
"Unite has set out simple and reasonable steps to the council to resolve these issues. It is important to remember that this dispute is not about a pay rise it is about preventing serious pay cuts."
It comes as deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said army logistics are helping to tackle the rubbish piling up on Birmingham’s streets but there are "no boots on the ground."
Speaking from Scunthorpe, Rayner said: "There’s no boots on the ground, let me be very clear, we’ve deployed a couple of army logistics to help with the logistical operation of clearing up the rubbish.
"We’ve got over two-thirds of the rubbish cleared off the streets now, this week we’ll start to see cleaning up the pavements and streets as well as the clearance of all of that rubbish, I’m very pleased about that. The kids are off school, obviously it’s Easter holidays, we want that rubbish cleared."
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A huge pile of Rubbish on Bromfield Close in Aston
Getty
Graham added: "The government must now call a meeting with the stakeholders to ensure these steps are taken to bring the strike to an end.
"The government must now also urgently consider Unite’s proposal for debt restructure at Birmingham City Council and other local authorities. Workers and communities cannot continue to pay the price."
Asked if taxpayers would have to foot the bill, Rayner said "this all stems from equal pay liabilities."
She said: "We’ll continue to work with the council to bring down the costs and the liabilities they had with equal pay, which is part of this process, and make sure that the workers are treated fairly as part of that process."
Rubbish Piles up at a flat block on Edgebaston Road East
Getty
It comes as neighbouring Walsall Council has withdrawn its offer to open two tips for Birmingham residents during the ongoing bin strikes.
Tory council leader Councillor Garry Perry had made the offer to open the two Household Waste and Recycling Centres in Walsall, Fryers Road and Merchants Way, to residents of Birmingham.
However, not long after the offer was made, it was withdrawn, as Birmingham City Council showed no signs of accepting it, reports Express and Star.
