Employees at Crewe-based printing organisation Communisis have called off planned strike action after an offer of a 9% pay increase was accepted by members of the Unite union.
Communisis workers, who produce cheques and chequebooks, had initially voted for strike action after rejecting an 8% pay rise spread over three years, with a 2% increase in the first year and a 3% rise in each of the second and third years. The offer was rejected on the grounds that the first year's increase would be below inflation.
A seven-week series of 48-hour strikes and an overtime ban were scheduled to begin in late August after a ballot of Unite members saw 77.5% vote in favour of industrial action, but were subsequently suspended to allow further talks to progress.
The negotiations resulted in Communisis making an improved pay offer, with workers accepting an increase of 3% for each of the next three years.
Unite regional officer Darren Barton said: "I am pleased that Communisis' management were prepared to listen to members' concerns and made an improved pay offer. Their actions meant that strike action and any disruption to the [organisation's] work was avoided.
"Unite hopes these negotiations will bring in a new era of co-operation and that the relationship with the [organisation] can now be developed and strengthened."
A Communisis spokesperson said: “This three-year deal will provide security for our staff and our clients and gives us the time to keep building on our relationships with the union.”
