Birmingham faces strike action by refuse workers through the rest of the winter after the relationship between the trade unions and council bosses sank to a new low.

The GMB union said it was preparing for a long-running battle similar to a dispute between its members and the council in Leeds in 2009 – which lasted for 11 weeks.

And Unite said that the relationship between refuse workers and the local authority had “completely broken down” after the council banned officials from taking time off work for union duties.

Unite official Steve Foster said officials had been forced to withdraw from talks with council managers.

With rubbish already piling up in city streets, four trade unions have announced plans to walk out for half a day on both January 13 and 14 as part of a long-running dispute over pay cuts.

It follows a one-day strike on December 20, a reduced service caused by snow and the usual Christmas increase in waste – which combined to create a backlog which still hasn’t been cleared.

Managers bought in agency staff to try to remove waste while council binmen refuse to work weekends or cover for sick colleagues as part of a work to rule campaign.

The sight of black bin bags in the streets, reminiscent the Winter of Discontent when Britain has rocked by strikes during 1978-9, prompted a strong reaction from Government Ministers.

Local Government Minister Bob Neill said the latest strike action would “pose a health risk” and increase the city’s population of rats. He said: “This is a hammer blow for hardworking households in Birmingham who in some cases have already gone a month without getting their bins collected.