The bin strike in Welwyn Hatfield is now over, with services set to resume as normal following an agreement over a pay deal.
Services will now resume from 5am on Friday (June 23), with a Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council spokesman saying: "We are pleased to be able to confirm that the industrial action at Urbaser, our waste collection provider, has been resolved and waste collections and cleansing services will resume as normal from Friday, June 23.
"Please leave your bins out for collection on their usual collection day. In order to minimise further disruption, we are unable to return to collect bins which have been missed this week due to the strike action.
"We understand the significant disruption that the industrial action has caused to our residents and we apologise to anyone affected."
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Welwyn Hatfield residents raised serious concerns about the health and safety implications of uncollected bins, while council leader Paul Zukowskyj and MP Grant Shapps were at loggerheads over the crisis.
Mr Shapps blamed the WHBC's new Labour-Lib Dem joint administration for the strikes, calling on Cllr Zukowskyj to "end the chaos your administration as already brought to Welwyn Hatfield".
Cllr Zukowskyj was quick to respond, highlighting that the Conservative administration - who lost overall council control at the May elections - had been in charge when both Urbaser were given the waste contract and the strike was balloted for.
Following the conclusion of the strike, he told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: "I'm really pleased the new joint administration has been able to assist in resolving this dispute in short order, keeping the disruption and problems for residents to a minimum.
"The administration has been in post for just one calendar month today, so I feel really proud it has come together over this issue and I now look forward to delivering on our priorities in the future.
"I would thank Urbaser, Unite, ACAS and council officers for working to resolve this dispute and I know all involved will now pull together to deliver the recovery plan to get the waste collection service back to normal."
Urbaser workers have accepted a 13.5 per cent pay increase, causing further concern for Grant Shapps.
He penned a letter to Cllr Zukowskyj after the strikes ended, saying: "Welwyn Hatfield residents will be pleased that the union and bin collection staff have reached a pay agreement that will see them back to work.
"Although, residents may be less pleased to find out they'll no doubt have to help fund the agreed 13.5 per cent pay rise by paying more council tax next year."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is a tremendous result, which was made possible by the absolute unity of our members.
"By standing together and taking industrial action, they ensured the employer made a vastly improved offer.
"This result demonstrates yet again how Unite’s relentless focus on jobs, pay and conditions is achieving direct financial benefits for its members."
Gary McKinnon, head of commercial at Urabser, added: "We are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between Urbaser Ltd and Unite, which will see an end to the industrial action at our Welwyn Garden City depot.
"Both parties met with Acas yesterday and, after six hours of negotiations, a proposal was presented to members and accepted in a ballot.
"Waste and recycling services will resume as normal from today. We wish to thank local residents for their patience during this time and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council for its support."
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