A STRIKE at a chilled foods factory was averted yesterday as managers and unions resumed talks.

Staff at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, Teesside, had planned to stage their third walkout over contracts for new workers after talks with company bosses broke down.

But the industrial action, due to run from 6am Monday until 6am yesterday, was halted at the 11th hour after the Leeds-based company backed down and reopened discussions.

The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), which represents more than 90 per cent of the workforce of 150, has been supporting its members throughout the long-running dispute.

Regional officer of the BFAWU, Alan Milne, said yesterday: "As a gesture of goodwill, the members of Country Style Foods have suspended the strike actions at this time while talks with the branch secretary and the company are in process." The dispute at the six-acre site, at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton, began earlier this year when revised contracts were introduced to new staff, which removed bereavement leave and cut overtime rates.

The terms and conditions of the contracts also required staff to sign a clause to opt out of the European Working Time Directive.

There was also an agreement to work at least 20 hours of overtime a week.

Walkouts were staged in April and May and workers began an overtime ban and working to rule in July.

At one point, it was feared that Country Style Foods might derecognise the union.

Throughout this time, Mr Milne repeatedly contacted the company, urging managers to meet with the union, but until now, he said, bosses had refused to talk.

Mr Milne is meeting shop stewards tomorrow and it is understood that some of the barriers created by the new contract have been removed.

Until now, Tony Wood, chairman of the family-owned company, had refused to comment on the dispute.

Yesterday, he said: "Obviously it is good news that there hasn't been a strike." He would not comment on any ongoing talks.

Country Style Foods has sites in Leeds, Grimsby and Stockton and produces frozen desserts, speciality breads, Danish pastries, bagels, doughnuts and croissants