A three-week extension of bin strikes has been announced as a dispute over pay continues.

Industrial action by GMB union members working for Canenco - the waste contractor owned and run by Canterbury City Council - began on July 5 and will now continue into next month.

The union for the refuse workers today issued a new strike notice which prolongs the current strike action until at least September 10.

Frank Macklin, GMB organiser said: “GMB and our members have been overwhelmed by the local support, ordinary people understand how hard it is to make ends meet at the moment.

“The strikers thank the local residents for their ongoing support and generosity, they must be as frustrated as we are that the politicians don’t do what they say.

“The strike now seems destined to continue into September after [city council leader] Cllr Baldock’s stated intention of talks at ACAS [which mediates discussions] has failed to materialise.

“We’ve had so many Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay residents show their support for their hard-working refuse collectors who are battling to be paid the local market rates of £12 an hour for loaders and £15 an hour for HGV drivers.

“The council is seriously out of touch with its voters and the issue of low pay, as it has failed to move towards a resolution.

“Canterbury council has had weeks now to assess the finances available and put forward an improved offer.

“The longer it takes the more [it will] inconvenience the residents and ratepayers of Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.

“Our members have been leafletting residents this week informing them of why they are on strike and thanking them for their support.

“We expect to continue this and leaflet every home in the city.”

Union members say their pay demands are comparable to what refuse workers already make in Dover, Folkestone, Ashford and Swale.

Some of the striking workers attended the meeting of CCC’s cabinet on Tuesday to protest as the council approved a £235,000 move to reopen Sturry Road Park and Ride.

Outside the meeting, council leader Cllr Alan Baldock (Lab) spoke to binmen and “told us that an offer was imminent,” Mr Macklin claimed.

This comes despite council chiefs insisting another offer would not be forthcoming following four previous offers and Unison members agreeing a deal, which has been put to GMB.

The strikes mean some recycling has been sent to landfill to keep up with collections while workers and the authority remain at a stalemate.

The public has been told “recycling can be placed in black bins if necessary” to ease pressures on collection routes.

Responding to the further strikes, a spokesperson from Canenco said:"Canenco has made a fair offer to members of the GMB which has been accepted by the recognised union Unison - an 8.9% rise for loaders and a 7.3% increase for drivers which jumps to 14.9% when you include the temporary £2,000 retention bonus they have been receiving being made a permanent part of their wages.

"We and the council have been clear, there is no more money. That is as true now as it was a month ago.

"The GMB fails to compare apples with apples when it talks about a fair market rate as it's more complicated than just looking at pay per hour.

"For example, crews at those other councils might have fewer contracted hours which would push up the hourly rate even though their take-home pay is the same as the drivers and loaders we employ.

"Some of those deals are backdated. Some are not.

"Some of those councils or the companies they employ to empty their bins have completely different terms and conditions around sick and holiday pay.

"It's time they were open and transparent with the public which is being inconvenienced when it comes to recycling collections and their members in Canterbury who have already lost a month's pay on the picket line and are in line to lose another month's too.

"We are eternally grateful to the 47% of our waste crews that have been turning up for work because they are working harder than ever before.

"Because of their efforts we are managing to collect all black/household waste bins on time, emptying around 60% of garden waste bins, maintaining a clinical waste service, collecting bulky waste, removing flytips and picking up purple sacks.

"This is a good opportunity to thank residents for their patience, understanding and for finding ways of dealing with their recycling."