Hovis workers pause strike after fresh pay deal

Strike action which would have disrupted Hovis bread deliveries has been paused.

About 60 Unite the Union members, who are distribution drivers for the depot in Avonmouth, near Bristol, were due to walk out earlier after staff were offered a pay rise below their demands.

However, the union has confirmed the strike has been shelved to allow workers to vote on a new pay offer following late night negotiations on Wednesday.

Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: "After fresh negotiations, we have decided to pause industrial action to allow members to have their say on a new offer from Hovis."

Representatives at the union said the previous 3% offer was a pay cut as inflation sits at 3.4%.

A Hovis Bakeries spokesperson said: "Following a day of constructive discussion yesterday, we are pleased that union representatives at Avonmouth bakery have agreed to suspend industrial action while colleagues vote on a new offer.

"We would like to thank the Unite team for their willingness to work constructively with us to reach this stage."

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