Birmingham could be set for another round of strike action by binmen after they overwhelmingly rejected the latest offer from the city council.

A meeting of 500 refuse collectors saw 95 per cent angrily reject the complex working practices deal, thrashed out over the last month, raising the prospect of black bags piled high in the streets, just weeks after the last round of industrial action.

The four unions involved, GMB, Ucatt, Unite and Unison, have now asked for more talks but sources say that unless the council moves further industrial action is “unavoidable”.

The dispute, which peaked with a strike in December, is over an equal pay review which saw binmen lose up to £4,000 pay each. Talks resume todday (Friday), but are unlikely a to reach a deal which can be agreed by the council’s cabinet at its meeting on Monday.

Unite regional secretary Gerard Coyne said: “Some bright spark at the council seems to think wasting taxpayers’ money by pretending to negotiate for a month is a good tactic.

“Had the council been serious this dispute could be over. The unions are now giving the council another chance to get real before we give consideration to further action.”

A council spokesman said: “The council believes that their proposals offered a solution to the Trades Unions’ industrial action.

“These contained a number of changes brought about directly through the talks with the trade unions, and the Council believes the proposed agreement offered a positive way forward.

“The trade unions are well aware that the city council is unable to go any further in amending its proposals due to wider constraints it faces.”