The chapel was set to ballot for industrial including strike action in response to the company's refusal to discuss dropping working hours from 42 down to 36.

Wyndeham introduced a 42-hour working week, with no additional pay, at the back end of 2008 as part of a rescue package for the company.

According to Unite national officer Steve Sibbald, with the company in a better position financially, members asked to return to the previous way of working - a suggestion that was initially rejected by the company.

Sibbald said that negotiations are expected to take place in the coming weeks, but added that a ballot will be back on the agenda should they fail to provide a satisfactory outcome for the union.

He told PrintWeek: "The members helped the company turn a corner when they were in need, but it is about time that we got the working week down. It was always an issue, even when members agreed to it initially, but enough had become enough.

"The ballot has been suspended but we will be pushing for them to make an appropriate offer, otherwise we will proceed with the ballot."

Wyndeham was not available for comment.