Strike action threatened by Hovis distribution drivers this week has been temporarily called off after the company made a new pay offer.
Around 60 drivers at the Avonmouth, Bristol site said they would commence indefinite strikes from 24 September after staff were offered a 3% pay rise by their employer.
The Unite union said that with RPI currently standing at 3.4%, Hovis had effectively handed the drivers a pay cut.
Unite said thousands of loaves of bread were made at the site each hour and industrial action would lead to shortages in supermarkets and retail outlets throughout the South West and as far as the West Midlands.
But the union said continuous strike action by the drivers had been paused following late night, eleventh hour pay talks.
“After fresh negotiations, we have decided to pause industrial action to allow members to have their say on a new offer from Hovis,” said Unite regional officer John Sweeney.
