A PAY dispute at a lawnmower maker has ended after workers accepted an offer, a union has confirmed.

Unite says a number of staff at Husqvarna Group, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, have agreed a deal.

Workers had previously imposed an overtime ban work to rule policy after refusing an offer, with the union claiming the 2.3 per cent deal, accompanied by a one-off payment of £300, wasn’t enough since it ignored workers’ efforts in delivering a record year for the business.

However, Mark Sanderson, Unite regional officer, said: “Our members accepted an approved offer of a two-year pay deal of three per cent for year one, backdated to September 1 last year, and three per cent for year two or RPI plus 0.2 per cent, whichever is higher.

“Our members are now working normally and the product quality can be assured at the very high standard it has always been.

“Our members stood together and, with minimal losses, they achieved the result they wanted and are very pleased with the outcome.

“The commitment of Unite members and their attention to detail and flexibility has powered the company to a record year and secured its reputation for producing fantastic quality products.”

Yesterday, the Echo exclusively revealed Husqvarna was creating 75 permanent and 800 temporary jobs at its Aycliffe plant to ramp up work on robotic cutters.