The threat of bin strikes still looms over a district despite workers pausing industrial action for crunch talks.

The GMB union confirmed on August 30 binmen employed by Thanet District Council (TDC) would take industrial action starting yesterday (Monday).

Members first notified their intention to strike in May but the latest round of action was paused after parties returned to the negotiating table.

The trade union last week announced a suspension of the planned strike due to start this week pending talks mediated by the government body ACAS.

This morning GMB Southern regional organiser Frank Macklin confirmed strikes were halted as talks resumed with the local authority.

“We had talks yesterday with ACAS, the talks are progressing, we’re meeting again on Wednesday afternoon,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Macklin would not be drawn on details regarding the progress of the talks but was optimistic of a breakthrough.

Binmen with the GMB are demanding £15 an hour for drivers and £12 for loaders.

Refuse workers in Canterbury recently secured that pay in a “bumper” deal after 67 days of strike action.

On Thursday it was announced binmen employed by Canenco - the company owned by Canterbury City Council to manage waste collections - would return to work, with the pay rise set to come into force from November 1.

In Thanet, bins are collected directly by the council, and binmen are employed by TDC.

GMB has previously said the £15 for drivers and £12 for loaders is the “market rate” for refuse workers, citing pay in other local authority areas around southern England.

Chief executive of TDC, Colin Carmichael, previously said: “The reality is that we have already increased pay for our cleansing services staff to reflect comparable jobs elsewhere, and there is a further generous pay offer on the table.

“Comparing the pay position for Thanet with other areas, where the waste service is run privately and not by the local authority, is not comparing like for like.”