People living in Dacorum borough should expect further disruption to their bin collections.

Borough council workers belonging to the Unite union have voted for strike action, including on weekends around the bank holiday, after nine staff who clean the authority’s adventure playground were made redundant.

Unite regional officer Richard Gates said: “The evidence increasingly points to the council making the service look ‘attractive’ for Carillion-style outsourcing – and we know where that led. If such a course were adopted, refuse services for Dacorum residents will quickly deteriorate.”

This follows a strike over Easter in protest against cuts to redundancy pay.

Mr Gates said: “I have told the council numerous times redundancy pay is given to employees not so they can go on a luxury holiday, but so they can continue to put food on the table for their family until they can secure another job.

“This reduction, running into hundreds of pounds, is completely unacceptable to our members. We won’t tolerate this race to the bottom.

“The door is always open for discussions on this issue, something the council has repeatedly turned down. Until we have constructive talks and reach a fair settlement, this dispute will escalate with bin collections increasingly delayed with all the public health hazards that, unfortunately, may ensue.”

Unite and Unison members will rally outside the Civic Centre in Hemel Hempstead this week.

Dacorum Borough Council said: “In February the council approved the reform of adventure playgrounds to ensure they can continue to support young people while providing a service that is operationally and financially sustainable.

“The council is currently in consultation with staff on the proposed changes to the adventure playground and a final decision on the changes and the staff structure will be taken once that consultation has been completed.

“It is likely collections over the May Bank Holidays will be affected. We will do our best to minimise disruption as far as possible. Some disruption is unavoidable as a consequence of industrial action and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”