Thanet bin workers have now said they will not go on strike next week.

Earlier today, GMB members working for Thanet District Council’s (TDC) Manston road refuse and recycling department voted to call off the industrial action which was set to take place on Tuesday, May 30.

The strike action was planned amid an ongoing pay row, but union members say they will work as usual on Tuesday to allow talks on their proposals for better pay to happen as soon as possible.

GMB regional organiser Gary Palmer said a suspension around taking action is the right thing for now, but the live strike action notices will remain in place.

“The live strike action notices which currently run from the May 30 until June 25 will stay in place to protect our members position, but a suspension around taking action at this time is the right thing to do, as both parties have now with early assistance from ACAS agreed both the process and scope of any talks to allow them to take place,” he said.

“It means residents can look forward to a continuation of all current services while we look to tackle the substantive issue of low pay for those providing this vital service.”

The news of the union going on strike was announced last week.

Workers said in a meeting at the beginning of the month that they “cannot survive” on their current salary.

Speaking after a union vote that saw 88.24% of members poll in favour of striking, Mr Palmer told KentOnline some members were using foodbanks as they struggle to pay the bills.

The union has a low membership among council staff, representing 59 of the authority's 543 employees.

After the strike on May 30 was announced last week, TDC said it recognised the need to support staff, and it has already applied a market supplement to the salary of the majority of cleansing staff.

There are warnings people elsewhere in Kent could be affected by bin strikes if wage demands are not taken seriously.

People across Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable have also been told they face a summer of unemptied bins, with GMB members being consulted on whether to push forward with three months of industrial action in May, June and July.

In the neighbouring districts of Folkestone and Dover, bin workers have already voted in favour of industrial action.

There are now no known strike dates for Thanet.