COUNCIL workers have suspended the planned one-day strike for next week after union leaders agreed a pay settlement with local government employers.

However, the news met with a mixed response from local union representatives who feel the offer is still well below what they were expecting.

After an intensive round of negotiations at ACAS, the advisory and mediation service, the three main local government unions Unison, T and G and the GMB agreed to a two year pay deal worth 7.8 per cent with a minimum rate of £5 per hour for the lowest paid.

All council workers will now receive a three per cent increase backdated to April with a further one per cent in October followed by 3.5 per cent next April.

A minimum rate of £5 an hour will be introduced equivalent to an immediate 4.1 per cent increase for the lowest paid rising to £5.32 next year. An increase of nearly 11 per cent.

Employers had initially offered a basic three per cent increase. But, union leaders had pushed for an immediate rise of six per cent, and some feel the new deal has been wrapped up in the two year offer.

St Albans District Council Unison representative Mr Robin Norton said: "We are happy for the lowest paid workers who are getting a significant increase, but the majority of white collar workers are still only getting a three per cent increase with the rest promised for next year.

"The three per cent is the same as what we offered back in April.

"I think the employers have just rushed through this offer because the teachers dispute is coming up and I think that they will get somewhere in the region of six per cent, but by then our members will have accepted this offer."

Mr Norton added that it would take between four and six weeks before workers finally agreed to the offer, but said it was very likely to be accepted as most of the union's members are in the lowest paid sector.

A joint statement from the leaders of all three unions said: "The ACAS proposals are the result of many hours of tough negotiation.

"We believe that the proposals represent a fair deal for local government employees and a strong platform to end low pay and unequal pay.

"We will be taking these proposals to our respective memberships and recommending acceptance. If they are accepted, it will bring an end to this dispute."

Last month more than 750, 000 council staff including 200 from St Albans held a one day strike and further action had been planned for next Wednesday (August 14).

Mr Norton added: "We are happy that the action has been called off."