The dispute centres around new contracts for staff

Workers were due to take part in a 24-hour walkout on Friday in a row over new contracts, due to be implemented under equal pay legislation.

However, union officials said managers had listened to their concerns and had acknowledged a report which criticised the job evaulation programme.

The two sides plan a meeting to discuss the matter next month.

The authority said it had added �2.5m a year to the wage budget to meet the costs of the Single Status Agreement.

Staff took part in a day of action last month as the council insisted that it had met union demands and was required to adhere to the legislation.

'Our concerns'

The T&G union confirmed it had suspended Friday's action and a planned overtime ban due to come into effect on Thursday.

The union said some staff have been facing pay cuts in the region of �1,500.

Regional industrial organiser Scott Foley said an independent report pointed to serious shortcomings in the job proposals.

Mr Foley said: "We will meet with the council again on 6 February so they can study our concerns and respond.

"Based on that meeting we'll see what the situation is."