ET Heron gained a last-minute reprieve from two 12-hour bindery strikes scheduled for this week after the bindery class two chapel voted narrowly against taking action.


The GPMU had planned stoppages between 00.15am and 12.15pm on Wednesday 18 July and for the same period the following day, but members narrowly voted to cancel them.


GPMU Anglia branch secretary Vernon Robson said: "I think the workforce realised they had picked the wrong time. For us to pursue it further would have caused the company further problems and put jobs in jeopardy. But the chapel proved their point and that they were prepared to stand up and be counted."


The dispute started after Herons refused to pay a 5 a week productivity extra to class two bindery staff following the installation of new kit (PrintWeek, 29 June).


But Robson said it was "never about the money, it was about respect".


"I hope the company will accept the move as a gesture so we can resurrect the discussions," he added.


ET Heron production director Ray Lesnik said the firm had written to GPMU general secretary Tony Dubbins, but had not yet had "the courtesy of a reply".


He admitted it was a "slow time of the year" for the firm, but said there was "never a good time" for strike action to take place.


He said he did not know what the next stage of the dispute would involve. "Im fully confident, after having spoken to the chapel, that its not going to include strike action, but well just have to wait and see what happens."


The company had been forced to send some work out during short stoppages two weeks ago, but "there was not a lot of disruption", said Lesnik.


Story by Gordon Carson