South Tyneside Council has announced that negotiations are underway to bring an end to strike action that has seen waste collection disrupted for nine months.

The GMB Trade Union has agreed to stand down strike action that had been planned for this week.

Residents are being advised to continue to leave their grey household waste bins out every single day until they are collected. 

The council is hoping that normal collection patterns for both waste types will be back soon.

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said: "By working together, and through open dialogue, we have managed to halt the action planned for next week.

"Discussions will continue, with a view to step down all strike action proposed for July.

"We know that residents will feel that we have been here before, only a few months ago in fact, but they can be reassured that the council is, and always has been, determined to provide this vital service to residents. We have never stepped away from dialogue and have done everything we can to reach the agreement we have in place today.

"Now that strike action has been stood down for next week, including any action short of strike, we will move to deliver on an agreed set of actions with the shared ambition to bring about an end to the dispute once and for all.

"Whilst this has been a lengthy and protracted process, it is important that the workforce came forward and have been heard. We have gone to great lengths to engage with and listen to their concerns and to address them.

"We’ve got an action plan that gives all parties a constructive way forward and we are already delivering on key areas like re-balancing the collections routes, improving PPE, increased engagement, and improved communication.

"We are confident that everyone is on board to implement the improvements to the service and the working conditions that the workforce has asked for.

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"Of course, we acknowledge and understand the disruption the industrial action has caused, and we thank everyone for their patience during what has been a challenging period for the borough.

"It will take some weeks to work through the waste backlog and hope to have that period of stability to restore the service. We thank the workforce in advance for their efforts to get collection patterns back on track."

We have contacted GMB Union who tell us that negotiations are still ongoing.