A long-running strike by bin workers in Birmingham could last until December, according to union Unite, after members voted to continue industrial action in a dispute over pay and jobs.
The union said on Wednesday that 97% of those who voted backed continued strike action, on a 75% turnout.
"The decision makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, warning strikes would continue for "as long as it takes".
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said it had made a "fair and reasonable offer" and that it remained committed to resolving the dispute.
It added that it had urged the union to put that offer to its members.
However, Ms Graham said: "After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week.
"True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May."
Last week Ms Graham claimed the deal had been watered down – a point denied by the council.
A spokesperson for the Labour-run local authority said the bin collection service needed to be transformed "to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve".
"We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response," they said.
The ballot was not a response to the latest offer made through the conciliation service Acas, they added.
