A STRIKE DUE to take place by workers at Marks and Spencer shops around the country tomorrow has been called off.

Employees voted 97 per cent in favour of recommendations by the Labour Court last Friday evening, which sought to bring an end to the ongoing industrial dispute.

More than 2,000 employees at the company’s 17 shops went on strike on Saturday 7 December over major changes to the company’s pension scheme.

M&S closed the employee defined benefit pension scheme at the end of October and was also proposing a range of changes to employee pay, including the elimination of the Christmas bonus usually paid to workers and a reduction in the Sunday and public holiday premium.

Unions have now written to the company looking for a roadmap of how it plans to follow the guidelines set by the Labour Court.

Gerry Light of Mandate, which represents the vast majority of workers, said it was “vitally important” for the company to liaise with the union’s appointed accountants “as soon as possible in order to end this protracted dispute”.

Read: More than 2,000 Marks & Spencer workers on strike today over pensions >

Read: Mandate workers at M&S vote in favour of industrial action >

Read: Marks & Spencer to introduce gender-neutral toys by Spring 2014 >

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