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.
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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.”