The seven-week bin strike in Birmingham has been suspended after trade union Unite agreed to further negotiations with the council.

Yesterday, the union claimed Birmingham City Council had restored the grade 3 jobs, which are responsible for the safety at the rear of the refuse vehicles. In exchange, it agreed in principle to a five-day working week.

Unite said it would hold further talks with the council using Acas to resolve the outstanding issues.

However, the council said no final decision on the future of waste services in the city had been made yet.

A spokesperson for the council said: ‘The Acas statement in connection with the waste and refuse dispute does not represent the council’s position until these matters are considered at the council’s Special Cabinet Meeting on 24th August 2017.

‘The decision on the waste reorganisation taken by Cabinet on 27th June is still the current position of the council.’

Unite assistant general secretary, Howard Beckett, said: ‘Unite will suspend the current round of industrial action that was due to run until 21 September to create a conducive climate for the talks to proceed smoothly. Our members will be working normally.’