Staff at Swindon warehouses that supply supermarkets around the country have welcomed a new pay offer from their bosses after going on strike around Christmas.

Dozens of GXO employees at the Symmetry Park and Penzance Drive sites walked out for eight days altogether during the festive period in a dispute over fair wages.

Unite members among the workforce rejected a two-year pay deal claiming that it was below inflation and opted instead to try to pressure Iceland into getting GXO to re-negotiate.

The logistics company argued that their existing offer was fair and worked with Iceland to minimise disruption to the supply chain while the staff were striking before and after Christmas Day.

This week, the union confirmed that a new improved pay deal had been secured and that this campaign of industrial action had come to an end.

Employees will receive a six per cent pay increase on basic pay along with associated rises in overtime and unsocial pay backdated to March 1, 2023.

They are also receiving a further increase of 5.3 per cent on basic pay, overtime and unsocial shift pay backdated to January 1, 2024.

Workers willing to work flexibly at the different storage sites in Swindon will receive higher pay rates and there are now increased incentives for working in the freezer section of the warehouse as well as the chilled and ambient areas.

The trade union welcomed the newly-agreed pay offer which will ease workers’ concerns about wages and help them tackle the cost of living crisis.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great win for GXO’s workers and for Unite. It shows the power of the trade union movement and the strength of Unite’s bargaining.

“I congratulate all our members at GXO on the grit and determination in their fight for better pay.”

The backdated pay will be paid at the earliest opportunity.

Unite regional officer Paddy Brennan said: “Our members stood together and have won a well-deserved pay award.

“Unite always stands up for its members and we continue to win improved pay offers across the country.”

A GXO spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Unite members have accepted the baseline pay offer we put forward in December 2023, alongside a change in the way the proposed incentive payment will be paid to colleagues working in the cold store, chill and ambient sections”.