STRIKING refuse workers will consider an offer tomorrow (Friday) that could lead to the end of a six week dispute in Leeds.

The offer was made on Wednesday at the end of a long series of negotiations, and will be put to GMB and Unison shop stewards and members tomorrow, with a vote expected next week.

If the hundreds of Leeds City Council refuse and street cleaning workers involved in the dispute, over looming pay cuts, vote 'yes' it will signal the end of a dispute that has been running since September 7.

Neil Derrick of the GMB said: "We have come to the position where we have a final package proposal from the council.

"We will be explaining in detail what the proposals mean to our members, giving them time to reflect, and then to vote on whether we have achieved what we have set out to achieve.

"The biggest driving force was that we had been sitting with our members facing savage pay cuts. Many of our members were literally fighting to keep a roof over their heads, so the detail has been important.

"The workers have all come out together and we want to make sure that, if they decide to do so, they all go back in together.

"That means ensuring every category of worker has a proposal which is satisfactory."

A city council spokesman said the talks had been "constructive and productive".

Council leader Councillor Richard Brett said: "I believe we now have a proposal on the table which is good for our staff as well as the people of Leeds."