Bin workers who were involved in a dispute over wages will not be taking strike action after they accepted a new pay offer.

The decision by GMB union members working for waste firm Suez came today (August 21).

They were balloted about taking industrial action after it emerged Maidstone workers were being paid more than those in Swale and Ashford despite doing the same job.

KentOnline understands loaders in Maidstone are on £13 per hour and drivers £17, while in Swale and Ashford, staff received £12 and £15 respectively.

It is understood the new offer will see workers in the different boroughs being paid the same from January 1 thanks to a new pay offer from Suez.

The firm took over responsibility for bin collections for the Mid-Kent Waste Partnership, covering Swale, Ashford and Maidstone, on March 25 as part of a £152 million contract.

There had been fears a bin worker strike would make what has been a chaotic start to the new service worse.

It promised to “improve reliability and provide a more efficient service” for the 460,000 residents it serves.

However, after five months households continue to go weeks without collections with 36,468 reports of missed collections being lodged with Swale council up until July 2 since Suez took over.

Following the end of a three-month grace period on June 25, it is understood the firm has had to pay “punishment” fines to the councils concerned.

Details of the cost and frequency of these have not been divulged for “commercially sensitive” reasons.

Swale council is investigating how and why things have gone wrong.

Over the next months, it will be looking at resources and staffing, data and rounds, contract and project management and communications.

More details are expected from GMB union later today.