Birmingham City Council's plans to scrap paying bonuses to its own staff, axe differential overtime rates and end perks such as free parking risk putting low-paid carers below the poverty line, a union has alleged.

The Birmingham Contract - dubbed the 'Martini' contract by unions because they permit managers to demand staff work 'any time, any place, anywhere' - has been signed by only 9,000 of the council's workforce of almost 20,000.