ACAS

After accusing the council of saying different things in public and talks, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said this "flip flopping needs to be sorted prior to the Acas negotiations next week".

The Unite union has agreed to attend mediation talks with conciliation service Acas next week to try to settle the ongoing bin strike in Birmingham.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said on Wednesday there had been an agreement to hold further discussions at the end of next week "under the auspices of Acas".

Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser, said the company revised its offer after talks with conciliation service Acas but only made it worse.

He said both sides met the conciliation service Acas earlier this month to try to resolve the dispute, and since then an improved offer had been made.