Industrial action at West Ferry Printers has been averted after the firms management and the GPMU agreed on voluntary redundancies and future wage negotiations.

GPMU national officer Chris Harding said that although members had voted for industrial action, this had been averted after West Ferrys management assured them that none of the planned 100 redundancies would be compulsory.

Harding said: Our members there voted just before Christmas in favour of industrial action. But now the redundancies will be on a voluntary basis and weve also had assurances on this years wage review. He added that in the circumstances the decision to halt any strike action was the only sensible option.

The Docklands-based newspaper printer, which employs 760 staff, began talks with the GPMU in November.