Striking refuse workers insist they remain “at an impasse” after almost three weeks of industrial action.

Negotiations between the GMB union and Canterbury Canterbury City Council have stalled during the dispute relating to staff at Canenco - the authority-owned environment firm.

Demanding £15 an hour for drivers and £12 for loaders, about a quarter of Canenco’s workforce walked out on July 5.

The union says its members will continue to strike until August 20 after the council made four pay offers and told strikers not to expect another.

Gary Palmer, GMB Southern Regional organiser, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “At the moment we’re at an impasse, we’re not hearing anything new from Canenco or Canterbury council, they’re saying they have nothing more to say.”

Unison, not GMB, is the recognised union at Canenco.

Unison members recently voted to accept an offer of £14.45 an hour for drivers and £11.61 for loaders.

This offer, which has also been put to GMB members, has been implemented and backdated to April.

However, GMB says its members are prepared to hold out until the higher demand is met.

“This can be resolved, the council know what to do,” Mr Palmer added.

“This isn’t about highway robbery this is about them looking after their families.

“The guys working just want their fare share – £15 for drivers, £12 for loaders and this will be resolved tomorrow morning.”

A spokesman for Canterbury City Council said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that this action may now run for several more weeks.

"Meeting their demand of £15 per hour for drivers and £12 per hour for loaders would add another £300,000 to the Canenco wage bill each year.

“The only way money could be found for this is to reduce services - either those provided by Canenco itself, or other vital frontline council services.

"Our cabinet members are adamant that council services will not be reduced to pay for Canenco's wage increases above those that have been agreed.

"In the meantime, the bin service Canenco is providing remains consistently stable, with a full refuse (black bin) service running every day and most garden bins also being emptied.”