Proposed changes to Aberdeen bin workers’ contracts, which caused unions to threaten strikes, will not go ahead.
The local authority had been consulting with refuse collectors for the past few months over the potential shake-up of conditions designed to save cash.
Suggestions put forward included staff working late into the night while wearing head-torches.
Bosses believed they could save £160,000 by bringing in an early shift starting at 6am or a late shift, finishing at 9.48pm.
Another option outlined to staff was a proposal to work five weekends in a row.
In the ballot, in which 75% of refuse collectors voted, they unanimously agreed to endorse any industrial action, including strikes, should the council’s final proposals be deemed “unacceptable”.
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Last night, a top union leader said staff were concerned about their safety by having to work so late, but feared the local authority would “railroad” through the changes to save cash.
Refuse workers in Angus took strike action over a move to introduce a similar shift pattern earlier this year.
At the moment, the city’s refuse workers are on a 7am to 3pm shift Monday to Friday.
And yesterday staff and unions were told this would not change.
A council spokeswoman said workers had come up with alternate saving suggestions including amalgamating some collection routes.
She said: “We are pleased that staff engaged so positively and constructively and we thank them for that.”
North-east regional representative for Unite the union, John Boland, said: “We are glad the suggestions were taken on board.”