Shadow of an all-out strike by bin men looms over Edinburgh

Council bosses were today set to tell staff that, unless a deal is reached, they will start a formal process that will result in them being told to accept new terms or lose their jobs.

The plan to get tough in a bid to force through the changes comes after 15 months of work-to-rule industrial action by the bin men.

Officials have said that it is "unacceptable" that the changes - which could save the city council around 800,000 a year - have not yet been implemented, though they admit the tough approach could result in an all-out strike.

Mark Turley, director of the council's services for communities department, was today expected to tell staff of the intention to start a formal "statutory process" if no agreement is reached.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "We have taken every reasonable step towards resolving this dispute and I'm very disappointed that we have reached this stage.

"Refuse collectors are not and cannot be immune from the council's legal and moral obligation to deliver on equal pay or from our desire to provide services that are as effective, productive and efficient as possible.

"Our pay system and our services must be modernised, and the external financial pressures on us have only increased since the dispute began.

"However, there are opportunities for those staff who recognise that change is essential.

The statutory process would involve the start of a formal 90-day consultation period with staff on the changes.

If no agreement is reached within that period, every employee affected would be issued with 90 days notice of dismissal alongside an offer of a contract on the new terms.

Those who don't accept the new terms within the 90-day period will be out of a job.

The move comes after a final offer by council officials was rejected by bin men in a ballot last month and earlier this month, leaders of the Unite union and council officials attended a meeting with conciliation service ACAS but there was still no breakthrough.

In a report published today, Mr Turley said the council had been patient but that the cost of the dispute continuing is "impossible to justify forever given the financial pressures facing the council".

He added: "Having exhausted all possible negotiated solutions it is essential that the refuse collection service is now brought into line with the standards of efficiency and productivity expected of all council services."

"The intentions to improve productivity may be met with resistance from the work force and could lead to an escalation of industrial action.

"However, the current situation is not defendable now that all reasonable efforts to resolve the dispute through negotiation have been exhausted."

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