The postponement comes after Paragon agreed to resume talks with the union on Friday, following Unite’s pledge to step up its strike action and ask customers and suppliers to help pressurise the company.

A spokesperson for Paragon UK said: "We can confirm that, following further discussion with Union representatives on Friday 27th July, all proposed industrial action by union members has been postponed, pending further negotiation.

"We would like to reiterate that whilst discussions are ongoing our commitment is to meeting with the requirements of our customers to ensure that we continue to deliver the level of service they have come to know and expect from the business."

Last month, union members at the Sunderland-headquartered commercial printer voted unanimously in favour of industrial action after the company launched a 90-day consultation on cuts to production workers’ terms and conditions of employment.

35 staff at the site have staged 24-four walkouts every Tuesday and Friday for the last three weeks, while the 58-hour walk out was scheduled to begin at 7pm on Tuesday 31 July with picket lines in place from 6.30am until 7pm on 1 and 2 August.