Members of the Unite union voted by 97 percent on a 75 percent turn out in favour of continuing the industrial action in Birmingham, which began intermittently in January before becoming an all-out stoppage in March.

At the centre of the dispute is a pay row between the cash-strapped city council and workers belonging to Unite which says some staff employed by the council stand to lose pound8,000 ($10,400) per year under a planned restructuring of the refuse service.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said a proposal by Birmingham City Council was not in line with an offer discussed in May in talks under a conciliation service.

She accused the Labour "government commissioners and the leaders of the council" of watering it down.

"It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully," she said.

"Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined -- the strikes will continue for as long as it takes," she added.

Although non-unionised workers have been collecting bins during the strike the industrial action continues to cause disruption to rubbish removal resulting in concerns about rats and public health.

The dispute in the city of over a million people, known for its industrial past and multicultural character, is an illustration of the budgetary pressures facing many other local authorities across the country.

A council spokesperson denied there had been any watering down of the deal.

"This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute, the spokesperson said.

"We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response."