REFUSE workers are threatening legal action against a council in the latest twist to a row over contracts.

Despite several weeks of negotiations between Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and the refuse staff's unions, both sides remain locked in a dispute over the council's decision to impose new employment conditions.

Included in the contracts, which were first introduced in September, but will not take effect until April, are late shifts for collections up to 9pm.

Already, the refuse workers have staged two, one-day strikes, last Monday and yesterday, and imposed an overtime ban in protest at the new contracts.

Now the public services union, Unison, which is representing the staff, has commissioned lawyers to begin legal proceedings against the council over the way they were introduced.

Stefan Cross, a partner in Thompson's solicitors, said: "Those people have been sacked and they will stay sacked until they agree to a different contract.

"This is extremely unusual. I can't think of another example where a council has gone through this exercise of dismissing its workforce."

The 85 refuse collectors and their supporters want the council to postpone the deadline for accepting the contracts from December 6 to nearer April, to allow time for detailed consultations. If that doesn't happen, they say the workers will be forced to quit.

John McDade, a regional officer for Unison, said: "After December 6, unless the elected members of this council come to their senses they will have no staff on their hands."

"We are available any time of day or night to negotiate in a spirit of openness, and with a view to settling this dispute."

The legal action, due to begin after December 6 unless a settlement is reached, would take the form of individual claims being made by the refuse workers and unions to an Employment Tribunal, with the aim of gaining compensation and the restoration of their original contracts.

Colin Moore, Redcar and Cleveland council's chief executive, said: "We are extremely disappointed that a protocol agreed with the trade unions not to issue further press statements at a delicate stage in negotiations has been broken.

"However, we must express a measure of gratitude that Mr McDade is finally prepared to negotiate in a spirit of openness and with a view to settling this dispute.

"We believe we have made, and will continue to make, a fair offer of employment to the 85 people involved.