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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bin strike ends as offer accepted | Bin strike ends as offer accepted |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Refuse workers in Leeds have voted to end the city's bin strike after walking out in a pay dispute 11 weeks ago. | Refuse workers in Leeds have voted to end the city's bin strike after walking out in a pay dispute 11 weeks ago. |
| The decision comes after a series of talks between council officials and unions. | The decision comes after a series of talks between council officials and unions. |
| Hundreds of workers walked out on 7 September over claims by the unions that a new pay system would have led to a wage cut of up to £5,000. | |
| The dispute has seen rubbish piling up in the streets, prompting concerns about rats and health hazards. | |
| The strike centred on union claims the council planned to cut refuse collectors' salaries from February 2011 following the introduction of equal pay legislation. | |
| 'Good news' | |
| In October, workers rejected a revised offer put forward by the authority but negotiations continued. | |
| At a secret ballot of about 600 union members on Monday, 79% voted in favour of the council's latest offer. | |
| Council leader Richard Brett said he was "delighted". | |
| Our immediate priority is to get staff back to work and a full service restored as soon as possible Council leader Richard Brett | |
| He said: "This is good news for us, our workers and the people of Leeds. | |
| "We have been able to work up slightly amended proposals which completely eradicate pay losses for many workers. | |
| "We will also continue to work with other members of refuse staff who stand to lose money to see what can be done to close any pay gap. | |
| "In the meantime, they will still benefit from pay protection until 2011." | |
| Mr Brett said the council would now "get on with modernising the service and begin to achieve the productivity improvements and efficiencies we require". | |
| He added: "However, our immediate priority is to get staff back to work and a full service restored as soon as possible." |