Strike action by East Dunbartonshire Council and the Leisure and Culture Trust has been called off after crunch talks.

Unison and Unite trade unions suspended the plans and will now consult with members on a fresh package reached after weeks of negotiations.

The industrial actions was organised in response to a dispute over employee terms and conditions.

Simon Macfarlane, UNISON regional organiser, said: “This is a tremendous position to be in given where we were last November when the council unilaterally took a decision to reduce our members’ pay and conditions.

"Spectacularly strong, colourful and vibrant strike action by the joint unions in June and solid action short of strike has led to a transformed landscape.

"Annual leave, overtime rates and unsocial hours payments have all been maintained and a much more realistic position has been offered on voluntary redundancy terms.

"It is now up to our members to democratically decide whether they accept this offer. Our advice is that they do.

"UNISON members in East Dunbartonshire Council and Leisure & Culture Trust have achieved so much for themselves through growing confidence in collective action and realising that organising yourselves in your union gives you strength.”

Kenny Jordan, UNITE, added: “The residents of East Dunbartonshire shall be the ones most relieved to hear that last minute talks may have set out a chance for the ongoing dispute to be finally coming to an end with compromise reached through positive consultation and negotiation rather than hard-nosed imposition.”