Gravediggers have called off an all-out strike that was due to start this week, after plans to cut a quarter of the workforce were withdrawn.
UNISON claimed victory in the dispute, at Rotherham Crematorium, after contractor Glendale Managed Services cancelled its redundancy plans in the face of industrial action.
Yorkshire and Humberside regional officer Robin Symonds commented that the company “has seen sense” after the union voted to take indefinite strike action over the “unnecessary” redundancies.
And he added: “This is clearly good news all round. The gravediggers do an extremely important job, often in poor conditions for low pay. The last thing they wanted was to have to take strike action, but they realised that the stakes were high and their jobs were on the line.
“We are pleased that there will be no disruption to the service and that no jobs will now be lost.”
Glendale was proposing a 25% reduction in its team of 12 groundsmen, who dig graves and maintain the grounds of the council’s cemeteries and crematorium.
UNISON balloted its members over the dispute with 87.5% voting for strike action, with a 100% turnout.
The company had claimed it was to suffer a £104,000 reduction in funding to run the service. But UNISON revealed the claim to be inaccurate.
