Construction union UCATT have called off planned industrial action on local authority contracts after Kier came up with a compromise deal to head off the dispute over changing the paydays of its workers.

The dispute arose after Kier Services staff became upset over Kier’s decision to change the pay date from the 15th to the 28th of each month.

Workers feared that the move could lead to further changes to their pay and conditions.

In an industrial action ballot last month of UCATT members at North Tyneside, Stoke, Harlow, Islington, Gosport and Southend received a 74.4% vote to support strike action and 86.3% vote to support industrial action short of strike action.

Since the ballot Kier’s management has come up with several concessions to ease the switch.

Workers will be offered a loan of up to one months pay, repayable over 12 month or reimbursed when an employee leaves the business for any reason.

UCATT then held further consultation with members at Kier through a series of mass meetings, at the meeting members overwhelmingly supported the new proposals.

A Kier spokesman said: “The change is being made to align the monthly payroll process across the entire enlarged group and mirrors the procedure adopted by most comparable employers.

“We are committed to continuing to work with and consult the unions.”