Union members have suspended planned strike action by Action for Children staff today, to allow for talks to continue with conciliation service Acas.

The strike was voted for by members of the unions Unite and Unison, following unrest over staff pay and mileage rates.

Yesterday, an agreement was signed between the charity’s management and union members to postpone the period for industrial action by four weeks to 10 April.
 
Both Unite and Unison subsequently withdrew the notice for strike action yesterday afternoon.

In a statement yesterday, Unite regional officer Andrew Murray said: “We will now continue our talks under the auspices of Acas in a constructive fashion to achieve an equable settlement for the hard-working staff at the charity.”

His comments were echoed by Unison national officer Simon Watson.

"We remain determined to resolve this dispute and get the best deal for Action for Children workers who are dedicated to looking after children and families," he said.

The dispute follows an announcement by the charity that it would award staff a 1 per cent pay rise for the year 2015/16, with no cost of living rise for half of the 5,000-strong workforce.

The charity also said it would remove contractual pay increments for new starters and cut mileage rates.

But the unions said that in the last four years Action for Children generated an average surplus income of £5.4m a year. 

Today, a spokewoman at Action for Children told Civil Society News that: "The role that trade unions represent in the work place is highly regarded by Action for Children. We are happy that negotiations will continue in order to avoid the disruption that industrial action would bring our services.

"Our top priority is to provide the highest quality care and support to the people who depend on our services. We remain committed to reaching agreement with the unions and find a settlement that is acceptable to both parties.”