Newham Council has claimed it has reached agreement with a union to end a dispute with refuse workers over pay and conditions.

Members of Unite who work in the authority's waste services held strike action in August, September and October as part of the dispute.

The union said they were demanding a "significant" pay rise to deal with the increasing cost of living.

READ MORE: Newham council tax and rent increases planned for next year

But the council has now claimed it has agreed a deal with Unite to stop the dispute.

Last week the council said it agreed on a package which will see frontline workers receive a pay increase of 9.5 per cent while drivers will get a pay increase of 7.5pc, along with “additional enhancements” for out-of-hours and unsociable working. 

Street cleaners and estate caretakers will see the same adjustments to their pay.

Residents will not be disrupted by strike action over the Christmas and New Year period, the council wrote in a statement.

The deal is part of a wider package that will see council staff across the board receive a 7pc to 10pc pay increase as part of the national pay award process.

The council's chief executive made an agreement on the pay increases with all unions, a spokesperson said, which will see improved terms for maternity payments.

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Beau Stanford-Francis, Newham's director of public realm, apologised to residents who have been affected by the strikes and thanked refuse workers for working hard during a “difficult period”.

Mr Stanford-Francis said: “The council has been committed to ensuring that we reach a settlement that is fair to our workforce and our residents. The council is committed to providing excellent services to support our community and serve our borough.

“Throughout the discussions, we have recognised the excellent work that our frontline staff undertake for our community and also recognise and understand the cost of living pressures that colleagues, especially the lower paid members of the workforce, are faced with.

“I would like to thank all colleagues involved for working in a constructive and collaborative manner to end the dispute."

The Recorder has contacted Unite for comment.