Barking and Dagenham Council and the GMB union are planning to hold talks with the view of improving relations between the two parties.

Both will return to ACAS - an organisation devoted to resolving employment disputes – to look at their current and future working relationship.

The move follows what is seen to be the end of the industrial refuse walk outs, with 76 of the 106 GMB members agreeing terms to return to work.

The strikes, which began back in March, were initially called by the GMB, Unite and Unison unions when workers claimed that council changes to working conditions would see drivers £1,000 a year worse off and cut the time for safety checks on wagons.

“I welcome the opportunity to draw a line under the recent dispute and get back round the table to talk about how we work more constructively with the GMB in the future,” said Chris Naylor, chief executive of Barking and Dagenham Council.

Unite and Unison agreed terms with the council five weeks ago, including a one-off £500 payment for each worker, but the GMB continued strike action, which had been due to end this week.

However the newly-returned GMB workers have now accepted the same terms.

“It’s good news for Barking and Dagenham residents that this dispute is moving from the streets to the negotiating table,” said Brian Strutton, national secretary of the GMB.

Read more; Majority of Barking and Dagenham’s striking GMB members return to work