Planned strikes by more than 400 Imerys staff, predominantly based at clay mines in Cornwall, have been called off after an improved eight per cent pay deal was secured by trade union Unite.

The workforce had voted to strike over the refusal of the company to offer a pay rise that covered the whole of 2023. The issue has since been resolved without the need for industrial action and the pay rise will be backdated to January 2023.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “When workers stand together in a union, they win, as demonstrated here by our members at Imerys.”

A spokesperson for Imerys in the UK said: “We would like to thank Unite for this swift decision and its support in recommending that members accept our latest offer of an eight per cent pay increase for 2023.

“We are pleased to hear the results of the indicative ballot and look forward to focusing on growth fo 2024.

“Lastly, we’d like to thank all colleagues for their patience during this time of uncertainty.”