THE prospect of Inverclyde's bins overflowing due to strike action has receded after union members accepted a new pay deal.

Unite, which represents the bulk of Inverclyde’s waste workers, has accepted a revised pay offer from local government chiefs.

Unite’s thousands of local government members returned a 71 per cent yes vote in favour in a consultative ballot.

The decision follows a move by Unison earlier this week to reject the pay offer, while GMB’s members voted to accept.

The offer accepted by Unite’s membership represents a minimum cash increase of £1,292 for the lowest paid council workers, which is equivalent to 5.2 per cent for those earning around £25,000.

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: “It was down to our members’ guts and determination that an improved pay offer was finally put on the table which will now help to deliver better jobs, pay and conditions for workers across all Scottish councils.”

The Scottish local government living wage will also increase by 5.63 per cent.

A minimum increase of 67 pence an hour or 3.6 per cent, whichever is better, will be applied to council workers.

This amounts to an average 4.24 per cent increase for a one-year period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.