Unite members working for the Metropolitan Police, including MetCC call centre staff and fleet workers, were due to walk out from Monday, January 19 to Saturday, January 24 in an ongoing pay dispute.
The strike has now been suspended following progress in negotiations and a new pay offer from the force.
Keith Henderson, regional officer for Unite, said: “Following a breakthrough in negotiations, we have agreed to suspend upcoming strike action to allow our members to have a say on whether to accept this.”
The dispute centres around pay increases for 2025-26.
Previously, Unite had argued that staff had been offered a lower pay rise than the 4.2 per cent increase given to Met police officers in September 2025.
The union said all other UK forces have awarded a 4.2 per cent increase to both officers and police staff, while Unite members had previously rejected two offers, a below-inflation rise of 3.8 per cent and a 4.2 per cent increase conditional on giving up existing terms and conditions.
Past strike action had already caused disruption to police services, particularly on New Year’s Eve when the absence of fleet staff led to delays in deploying marked and unmarked vehicles.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is completely wrong that our members at the Met are the only police staff in the UK that have not had a pay rise.
“It is immoral to tell them that in order to get the same pay increase as their counterparts elsewhere they will be expected to accept worse conditions.”
In addition to the pay dispute, Unite is also opposing Metropolitan Police plans to close ten of the 34 police front desks across London.
The union has warned that nearly 100 staff could lose their jobs if the closures go ahead.
While strike action is on hold, Unite members will now vote on the latest offer.
The consultative ballot is set to close on Wednesday, January 28.
