Talks regarding the pensions dispute at AstraZeneca will resume on Monday 1st November after 7 days of strike action. In order to allow these talks to proceed in a calm atmosphere GMB has agreed to suspend with immediate effect its campaign of industrial action.
This follows the seventh day of strike action against AstraZeneca which took place last Friday, 22nd October, and a continuous overtime ban which began on Thursday 23rd September.
The strikes arose from the company's decision to impose cuts to its defined benefit (final salary) pension scheme.
Neil Holder, GMB regional officer, in a written statement to GMB members said "Following the initial progress at exploratory talks held on Monday 25th October, which you were advised of yesterday, there has been a further exchange of e-mails and telephone calls between AZ, Allan Black and Neil Holden.
"The outcome is as follows: formal talks aimed at resolving the dispute will be resumed between the Company and the GMB on Monday 1st November on the Macclesfield site, these talks will further explore and hopefully finalise the areas covered last Monday.
"In order to allow these talks to proceed in a calm atmosphere, the GMB has agreed to suspend with immediate effect, its campaign of industrial action. For the avoidance of doubt this means that the programme of strikes already agreed will not take place and that the overtime ban currently in force is lifted.
"GMB has made it clear and the Company understands that the action is suspended rather than cancelled, and to facilitate this in line with legal requirements the necessary documentation will be exchanged over the next few hours. The effect of this is to stop the clock on the legal time limits surrounding this current campaign of industrial action.
"The industrial action (strikes and overtime ban) is however suspended with immediate effect."
