GOVERNMENT commissioners were accused yesterday of “sabotaging” talks aimed at resolving the long-running bin strike.

Members of Unite have been on all-out strike for more than two months in a row over pay and jobs, leading to rubbish piling up across the city.

The conciliation service Acas has been involved in talks since the start of the month, but the dispute remains deadlocked.

Unite said the talks set out a clear timeline for a discussed offer to be tabled by the council, but it claimed no offer has been made.

Commissioners were brought in by the previous Conservative government after the council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023.

Unite said: “What has become increasingly clear is that the offer is now being blocked by the government commissioners and the leader of the council, none of whom have ever been in the negotiating room.

“Talks aimed at resolving the Birmingham bin strike have been sabotaged by government commissioners.”

The union said it has been asking for a copy of the offer since the start of the Acas talks, but is still waiting.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “From the council side, the negotiations in this dispute have been a shambles, with the government right at the heart of it.

“The offer briefed to the press for all affected workers simply never existed and the new ballpark offer discussed at Acas has now been blocked by government commissioners.

“Instead of trying to injunct picket lines and attack workers, the council leader should stop playing games, get in the room and solve this dispute.

“Birmingham City Council’s bin workers, residents and the public at large have all been lied to.

“The bottom line is that our members can’t afford to have savage pay cuts of up to £8,000 with no mitigation. Until that issue is addressed the strikes will continue.

“If Labour is truly the party for workers, how can this government be aiding and abetting these cuts and once again allowing workers and communities to pay the price?”

Strikers and supporters shut down the Atlas depot in Tyseley yesterday, the third such shutdown in three weeks, which left lorries unable to move in or out.

A council spokesman said: “The leader and the commissioners are fully committed to finding a solution to this strike, and it is untrue to suggest otherwise or imply they are blocking the process.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it “is simply false” to suggest commissioners or the leader of the council have blocked attempts to resolve the dispute.