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 conditions.

Included in the contracts, which were 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.

Unison, which is representing the staff, has now commissioned lawyers to begin legal proceedings against the council over the way the contracts have been introduced.

The 85 binmen and their supporters want the council to postpone next Wednesday's deadline for accepting the contracts to allow for detailed consultations.

John McDade, a regional officer for Unison, said the council faced having no refuse workers from Wednesday and added: "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 by the workers and unions to an Employment Tribunal with the aim of gaining compensation and the restoration of the original contracts.

Colin Moore, Redcar and Cleveland council's chief executive, said: "We believe we have made, and will continue to make, a fair offer of employment to the 85 people involved.