Workers at a biscuit factory in Cumbria will not be going on strike after accepting an improved pay offer.

This is after workers at the McVitie's factory in Carlisle, who are members of the GMB union, were formally balloted formally for strike action, and returned a mandate to strike.

This was in response to the workers being offered a 4.25 per cent pay rise and a £500 one-off payment after demanding better pay from their employer, Pladis, which owns McVitie's.

They refused this offer, opting instead to formally ballot for strike action.

Oli Slack, GMB North West and Irish region regional organiser, said after a mandate was returned, there were no concrete plans in terms of how many days they are going to be going on strike, but it was going to disrupt the town.

At the time of the ballot returning, he spoke of their fellow strikers at the Jacob’s factory in Aintree, Liverpool, whom he said have been out for just under six weeks.

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Mr Slack said that because of the strike, production from that Jacob’s factory has been moved to various other factories, including the McVitie's factory in Carlisle.

Mr Slack said their strike would have not only impacted their employer, Pladis, but also the general public, as is the case with most strikes.

He said with the placement of the McVities factory, pedestrian and vehicular traffic will have been disrupted by pickets.

He added that they were all prepared to strike for longer and on other days if needed to achieve their goals.

However, upon an improved pay offer being put forward by Pladis to the workers, strike action has been called off.

A spokesperson from Pladis said: “We are pleased that GMB members at our Carlisle factory voted strongly in favour of our two-year pay offer.”

The two-year pay offer the workers voted for includes the original 4.25 per cent pay rise offer, with a £500 one-off payment, but adds a 4.5 per cent pay rise for the year after.

GMB was approached for a comment.

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