UNION officials meet today to discuss proposals to end industrial action in Southampton that saw rotting rubbish litter the city streets last summer.

Unison and Unite shop stewards will consider the outcome negotiations with the Labour -run council over the restoration of staff pay and conditions that were cut by the Tories last July.

The pay cuts of between two per cent and 5.5 per cent, to make budget savings, provoked 12 weeks of rolling strikes, mass protest marches, and ongoing industrial action by unions.

The Labour administration, which took power in May, tabled a provisional offer to the unions last month.

Unison said negotiations with council chiefs were now reaching a conclusion.

Stewards will today discuss what proposals will be put to a ballot of 2,400 union members – who will have a final say over any deal – in September.

Labour has admitted dozens of job losses may be needed to fund the restoration of pay cuts over the next three or four years, costing £2.7m, depending on what other savings can be found and how many staff can be redeployed.

Another thorny issue has been a legal claim, worth up to £12m, that the council failed to properly consult about its plan to dismiss workers if they didn’t sign up to the pay cuts.

Separate unfair dismissal claims have been lodged on behalf of 1,000 union members.

Conservatives said the cuts to staff terms and conditions saved 400 jobs.