The Public and Commercial Services Union called off yesterday's strike by 1,000 of its members employed by HP, ahead of talks next week.

HP confirmed the postponement and said it would be meeting the PCS next Wednesday 16 December.

The workers are mostly ex-EDS staff unhappy at changes to their terms and conditions since HP took over the company. They work on outsourced government contracts at the Department of Work and Pensions and the MoD.

A PCS spokesman said the union agreed to postpone the one day walk out and overtime ban in the light of HP's agreement to further talks, The Blackpool Gazette reports. ®