UNION leaders have approved two new strikes in the Birmingham binmen dispute, spelling more misery for householders.

And officials warned that industrial action could spread across the city council.

Refuse collectors will walk out for half a day on January 13 and 14 – action that is bound to add to the mountains of rubbish already littering the streets.

The council is due to resume talks with the four trade unions, Unite, GMB, Unison and UCATT today, but prospects of a swift resolution seem remote now more strike action has been announced.

Roger Jenkins, regional organiser at the GMB union, insisted his members had no choice but to escalate the dispute after council bosses docked the pay of binmen working to rule and withdrew privileges.

Mr Jenkins accused council leaders of “crazy behaviour” following a decision to deduct wages by up to 50 per cent and end the practice of shop stewards being allowed to conduct union business in work time – something that he said would make it even more difficult to reach a peaceful settlement.

He said there was also mounting anger at the council’s decision to recruit “scab labour” in the form of 200 casual staff hired to clear the backlog of rubbish sacks piled up across Birmingham since the industrial action began with a one-day strike before Christmas.