Two Birmingham students have raised more than £3,200 to help feed children in Malawi.

Birmingham City Council says it must make difficult decisions as talks to bring an end to strikes by binmen continue.

Council House in Birmingham
Council House in Birmingham

Refuse collection staff say they will stop work for three hours a day from July 28th in a dispute over pay and possible job losses.

Further talks took place between the local authority and trade unions yesterday, but the council has insisted reorganisation of the bin collection service is necessary.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “In the talks both sides set out their issues. The council restated the very fair and reasonable options it had given for refuse workers affected by reorganisation proposals.

“There will be no job losses for those who wish to remain with the council and there are options ranging from alternatives at the same grade, to promotional opportunities to staying within the refuse service, or taking redundancy.”

Birmingham City Council reassured residents that collections would be made over the weekend, but added that it would not bow to pressure from the threat of industrial action.

“The council is operating in difficult times,” the spokesperson added. “We are focused on providing reliable, effective refuse collection for citizens and we want to work with trades unions to do that.

“If that means taking difficult decisions the council will do so, even where at times it means difficult industrial relations which we are actively trying to resolve.”

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