After four years, the Port Kembla Coal Terminal dispute is over

At the Fraternity Club on Monday morning, workers voted unanimously to accept a revised offer from PCKT.

The deal provides a 10 per cent pay increase over four years and includes the job security clause the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) had been fighting for.

"I don't really know what it was all about for the company," CFMEU. Southern District Vice President Bob Timbs said.

READ MORE: Coal terminal dispute 'one of the worst'

"For us it was to provide a safe and secure place of work. We've got that today.

"We got what we wanted, we're a little bit bruised. We made some concessions on the way through but we certainly did deliver on what we went after, which was job security for our members."

Mr Timbs said negotiations for the new deal started four years ago and that PKCT could have saved a lot of time by agreeing to the job security clause much sooner.

The dispute turned ugly this year, with workers locked out for 50 consecutive days. Taking into account earlier lockouts and strike action, the workers haven't been inside the terminal since January 18.

READ MORE: Explaining the drama at the coal terminal

"It was hard on the members, hard on the families, hard on the community," Mr Timbs said.

"I don't know what for, other than to say these bosses had a philosophical fight with the CFMEU and they lost."

Truck driver Mark Roberts died last month after a serious accident at the coal terminal and Mr Timbs hoped that wasn't why the company chose to offer a deal that would end the dispute.

"I think they just finally realised we weren't going to go back to work until we secured job security for our members," Mr Timbs said.

The latest lockout was due to end on Tuesday morning, which is when the workers will be back on the job.

Coal terminal worker and union representative Murray Dakers said there was a sense of relief about going back to work on Tuesday after several months on the picket line.

"We're going back to work on a positive note," Mr Dakers said

"It's not a negative note, we're not returning still in battle mode. I haven't been to work for a while, so it will almost be like starting a new job."

A PKCT spokeswoman said the company was pleased to have reached an agreement with its workers.

"We commend the bargaining team for progressing to this next stage with an agreement that is in the best interest of our employees and their families and the broader Illawarra community," the spokeswoman said.

"The agreement will now be put to a formal vote within seven days."