INDUSTRIAL action by more than 350 Wightlink ferry staff has been averted after a revised pay offer.
A ban on overtime, rest day working and late sailings was due to start tomorrow and would have crippled the vital ferry service to the Isle of Wight over the Easter weekend but a new pay deal has now been offered by Wightlink.
Bob Crow, RMT union general secretary, said: "Our members made it quite clear that they were not prepared to accept what amounted to a pay cut, and the company has responded by tabling a new offer.
"Thanks to an overwhelming strike vote the company has shifted from its disgraceful initial position. The RMT executive has suspended the action scheduled for the weekend to allow time for our members to vote on whether or not the new offer is acceptable."
Wightlink bosses are now offering a £500 flat-rate consolidated increase for the current year and three per cent in 2007. The RMT has warned that the strike action has been suspended - not cancelled. If the offer is rejected again they will re-schedule industrial action.
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