REFUSE workers are planning a series of one-day strikes in protest at changes to their contracts.

The first strike involving refuse workers in Redcar and Cleveland will begin on Monday, starting at 6am and lasting for 24 hours. This will be accompanied by a continuous overtime ban.

Tim Bush, a regional organiser for the Transport and General Workers' Union, representing the refuse workers, said: "It gives us no satisfaction to make this announcement, but due to the intransigence of the authority, our members are left with no other option."

Mr Bush apologised to the borough's council tax payers.

He said that the union's previous offer of a discussion with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council stood, and that it was willing to reopen negotiations, pending the council's withdrawal of dismissal notices.

The council's chief executive, Colin Moore, said: "We apologise to the public that there is going to be disruption in an otherwise excellent service. The council must be able to expect reasonable flexibility from its workforce and remains prepared to do all it can for a negotiated settlement."