A planned strike by crane operators at HTC Wolffkran has been suspended after the company offered an improved pay offer.

Industrial action was due to take place on Friday, 08 September due to a pay dispute between workers and the tower crane company.

Union Unite said the new offer will see employees receive a 6% rise over two years, as well as two one off payments of £250 by the end of 2017. In addition, workers will see their paid annual leave entitlement increase by two days by January 2019 and receive greater flexibility on taking unpaid leave during the Christmas shutdown.

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Members will now be balloted on whether to accept the offer, with the vote scheduled to end on Friday, 15 September.

Unite regional officer Paul Lomax said: "The latest offer is a significant step forward and Unite has suspended the planned strike action to allow members to decide if they wish to accept it.

"Throughout this dispute Unite has always said that we have been fully prepared to negotiate and that we believed a settlement was possible. We are pleased that HTC Wolffkran returned to the negotiating table and that an improved offer could be made.

"If members reject the improved offer then Unite will reschedule the industrial action."

(LM)