One of the most bitter and lengthy industrial relations stand- offs in the NHS has been resolved after Northumbria Ambulance trust agreed to sign a recognition deal with Unison.

The decision, which was expected to be ratified at a trust board meeting yesterday, comes seven years after the trust cut off all dealings with the former health unions NUPE and COHSE - now part of Unison.

Unison's exclusion, which came at the height of the NHS internal market reforms, led to a period of intense hostility and mutual distrust which saw trust chief executive Laurie Caple demonised in NHS union circles.

The recognition agreement with Unison was spurred by plans to merge Northumbria with Durham Ambulance trust, which has formal trade union recognition arrangements.

Mr Caple said recognition was necessary to enable a pay and conditions 'level playing field' between the two trusts and to help 'create a new culture' in the merged trust.

The agreement will retain Northumbria's staff council arrangement, which the trust says has 'provided a stable industrial relations climate' for the past few years.

Unison is recognised for the purpose of collective bargaining on issues of pay and conditions, health and safety, and discipline and grievance issues. The agreement covers all staff below senior managers.

Unison was staying tight-lipped about the agreement as HSJ went to press. But it is clear that it regards the deal as a major coup that will mark the end of an era of politically charged industrial-relations turbulence at the trust.

Northumbria was one of the most dynamic exponents of the NHS reforms, achieving first wave trust status, derecognising unions, and bringing in local pay and a raft of income generation schemes.

Although Northumbria has always ridden high in the performance league tables it has had to endure a virulent campaign waged by Unison through the media and industrial tribunals.