7 January 2011 Last updated at 13:29 ET

Kirklees Council workers' strike called off

A potential five-day strike by workers at Kirklees council has been averted after union leaders and the council reached a new agreement.

In December, members of Unison voted for industrial action in protest at plans to shed 700 staff by 2014.

But negotiations led to a draft agreement earlier this week which was ratified by both sides on Friday.

It means there will be no compulsory redundancies before April, one of the union's key concerns.

The agreement also includes a pledge that sickness absence records will not be used as part of the redundancy criteria.