THE LONG-running strike which has crippled key services in Southampton could soon be over.

An outline deal between union bosses and city finance chiefs is due to be put to Unison members at a mass meeting which will be staged on Monday.

If the deal is accepted at the meeting, workers will call a halt to the planned strike on May 21. They will also bring to an end the long-running "go-slow" by hundreds of city workers which has disrupted services in the city since February.

Union chiefs met with city finance bosses yesterday to discuss ways to end the strike before coming up with the outline deal.

Workers have refused to provide cover for vacant posts as well as refusing to use their cars for council business during the dispute.

The strike began following February's crunch budget-setting meeting which saw about 130 council workers' jobs cut.

Essential car allowances for hundreds of city workers were also slashed by the city's ruling Labour administration.

Union bosses are keeping tight-lipped about the details of the fresh deal.

They will be discussing it today with branch officials before putting it to members during Monday's meeting.

The proposals will then be put to a final ballot of thousands of council workers before the strike officially comes to an end.

Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said: "The council have made a new set of proposals which may form the basis for a settlement to the dispute."

In a separate move, hundreds of council staff working in the city's schools have voted to strike on May 21 - the council's crunch "Mayor Making Day", which could see the Liberal Democrats take over running the city for the first time in over 90 years.

Southampton City Council leader Councillor June Bridle said: "We have had a very useful meeting. We have put our final offer to the union and they are going to discuss that.

"We hope that it is viewed positively and is something that the union can recommend to its members. Let's hope this is an end to the industrial action.

"This is a result of some very hard negotiating and a package that I think staff can be satisfied with, and we as employers will be able to make savings that are necessary to deliver our council's budget."