A long-running dispute at Marks & Spencer has been resolved. Members of the Mandate trade union have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new set of proposals.

The dispute began over eight months ago when the company sought cost-cutting measures.

The workers voted by a margin of 82% in favour of the proposals which are "a significant improvement on the original proposals put forward by the company last year", according to Mandate Assistant General-Secretary, Gerry Light.

"Not only does this agreement improve the situation for our members in terms of the original set of proposals put forward by management, it is also an improvement on the Labour Court recommendation issued in March of this year" he added.

The union said the original proposals would have resulted in a detrimental effect on the living standards of all workers in the company.

Mandate members rejected the original proposals out of hand resulting in a one day national strike at the company last December. They also rejected the Labour Court Recommendation issued in March of this year.

Mr. Light called for the restoration of a better industrial relations environment at the retail company.

The details of the agreement have not been released.