Scheduled action throughout December is put on hold

Oxfam staff have suspended strike action after an improved offer was put forward by managers.

Some 500 staff went on strike on Friday 8 December, the first of 17 days of planned action taking place throughout the month.

However United, the union, said strikes scheduled for 14, 15, 16 and 17 December have been postponed as an act of good faith while it ballots its members on a revised offer.

Oxfam and Unite held talks at conciliation service Acas last week.

If the pay offer is rejected, strike action will begin again on 20 December.

Unite regional coordinating officer Jamie Major said: “Unite has been clear from the outset that this dispute could and should be resolved through negotiations. 

“Following talks on Friday, an improved offer was made and therefore Unite has suspended action to allow its members to be balloted on the proposed deal.”

An Oxfam spokesperson said: “We welcome the progress made during talks last week and are pleased that the strike action has been suspended.”

The strike comes as wages for staff at Oxfam have seen cuts of 21% in real terms since 2018.

Workers voted by 83% in favour of strike action in a ballot with an 82% turnout.

The vote came after they rejected a pay offer of £1,750 or 6% (whichever is higher), plus a one-off taxed payment of £1,000 for the lowest earners.