Strike action at Hovis’ Avonmouth bakery in Bristol has been called off following eleventh hour pay talks.
Around 60 Unite members working as distribution drivers at the site were due to walk out today in a dispute over pay.
However, following late-night negotiations, the action has been suspended while workers vote on a revised pay offer.
“After fresh negotiations, we have decided to pause industrial action to allow members to have their say on a new offer from Hovis,” said Unite regional officer John Sweeney.
A Hovis spokesperson told The Grocer: “Following a day of constructive discussion yesterday, we are pleased that union representatives at Avonmouth bakery have agreed to suspend industrial action while colleagues vote on a new offer.
“We would like to thank the Unite team for their willingness to work constructively with us to reach this stage.”
The dispute arose after members at the Bristol site rejected a 3% pay rise, which the union said amounted to a “real-terms pay cut”, with RPI inflation currently at 3.4%.
Unite said workers at Hovis’ Belfast depot had been offered additional benefits on top of the 3% increase. Bristol workers were therefore seeking the same enhancements, it added.
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