Workers employed by Mears in Manchester have struck a deal with the company to end more than 80 days of strike action.

A total of 180 staff, who were employed by Manchester Mears and Manchester Working (a joint venture company operated by Mears), began taking industrial action in May last year due to a dispute over pay parity.

The workers carry out repairs and maintenance on 11,000 council properties managed by Northwards Housing, with the contracts tendered by Manchester council.

The dispute centred around employees at both organisations being paid up to £3,500 less than their colleagues for undertaking the same work.

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Following discussions between union Unite, Mears and the council, a deal to end the dispute has been overwhelmingly backed by members, with general pay increases of 20% across the board.

The deal also includes;

• Equalisation of pay within and across trade groups

• Parity of pay with similar organisations in the sector

• The removal of the so-called ‘sackers' charter' which would have resulted in adverse changes to the workers' contracts

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Andy Fisher said: "This is a victory for solidarity and direct action. Our members have stuck together through thick and thin.

"There were those who said these contracts were so broken they could not be fixed, but Unite has proved them wrong.

"This dispute would not have been won without the total support of Unite, which is able to fully support its members when they had no option but to take strike action.

"The strike has brought the workforce closer together as a workforce and who will be primed to push back against the employer if fresh industrial relations issues develop in the future."

(LM)