THE prospect of strike action by litter pickers in the Valleys loomed nearer after talks between Caerphilly council and a trade union broke down.

Talks over the workers fight for equal bonus pay ended without resolution and angry workers have imposed an immediate overtime ban and are threatening to call an all-out strike.

The GMB union, which represents the workers, claim just one weekend of industrial action could see visitors to town centres such as Blackwood and Newbridge up to their ankles in rubbish.

Mike Payne, regional organiser for the GMB, said the council inserted a clause in the contracts of workers employed after January, 2001 without consultation. This meant street cleaners employed after that date receive £20 less bonus pay than their counterparts.

Mr Payne said: "We were due to start the overtime ban a week last Friday but we agreed to suspend action to allow discussions to take place.

"We met with ACAS and the council who told us there was no additional money to resolve the dispute. But they told us they would employ agency staff to cover in the event of a strike, so they have got money for that.

"We have decided to impose the overtime ban until the issue is resolved and I told council officials I reserve the right to step up the action with a one-day strike here or there, and maybe even an all-out strike."

Caerphilly council claim the GMB's request for equal bonus pay is in contravention of an agreement they made with council officials and ACAS in 2001.

The council is now urging people to make an extra effort to keep town centres and other shopping areas free of litter.

Cabinet member for the environment, councillor Paul Ford, said: "We are extremely disappointed that the union has decided to pursue this course of action as we believe the local authority has taken all reasonable steps to avoid this outcome.

"Negotiations will continue this week and, hopefully, we can come to an amicable agreement and resume our normal high quality cleansing services so that people receive the high level of services that they have come to expect."