Striking clearers at TransPennine Express (TPE) have suspended industrial action after receiving an improved pay offer.  However, the cleaners will still need to vote in a referendum for which the deadline is Tuesday 13 February.

Bidvest Noonan, the company which employs cleaners working on TPE services, has agreed to implement a ‘living wage’ of £12 per hour from November, with money backdated in the first year of the new agreement.  The company also agreed to talks with both the RMT Union and TPE with the aim of reaching a payment of £15 per hour for cleaning staff.

The new and improved offer contains staff travel facilities which will save cleaners £1,000 a year for rail travel.

The RMT has recommended that members accept the offer.  Strike action scheduled for Friday is, therefore, suspended.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “Our members’ fortitude and resilience in standing up for themselves has forced their employer to make this new offer. They will now have the opportunity to decide in a referendum whether they want to accept the new offer.

“Once again, this shows the threat of strike action is a vital tool for every worker to use in their workplace.”