Workers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have ended months of strike action after accepting a pay settlement, which includes a 52% pay increase for the lowest paid staff at the charity.

Hundreds of members of the union Unite at the charity had been involved in an indefinite period of strike action that launched during the summer amid concerns over low pay.

Unite had warned that “anger among the workforce is running at an all-time high” after staff were offered a pay increase of 3.75% at the start of the industrial action.

This week the union has announced that workers have returned to work “on a wave of celebration after they secured a historic pay settlement”.

As well as the 52% uplift in pay for the lowest paid workers, other staff will receive varying pay increases, all above the rate of inflation, said Unite.

Also, plans to overhaul the workplace pension scheme have been dropped and the charity’s “much missed staff canteen” is to be reinstated, said the union.

"Hundreds of staff will return to work today with their heads held high in the knowledge that by unionising, standing strong together and being willing to fight for what was right and fair, they have won a historic pay settlement,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

Unite regional officer Will Searby added: "It’s no exaggeration to say that for many workers at the ICR, the pay increases involved in this offer will be life changing. Every penny of this offer is thanks to these incredible members and their resolve, strength, and solidarity.

"Strikers stayed the course for an incredible 68 days, and they deserve nothing less than what they have won.”

A restructuring of pay scales, London Living Wage related changes and the introduction of an incremental pay scheme based on experience has contributed to this pay uplift, according to the charity.

ICR also points out that the pension plan changes that had been under consideration had included introducing a second non-contributory scheme for future joiners in non-academic or comparable roles and would not have impacted existing members of staff. It also says that the charity has continued to run staff canteens at its Sutton and Chelsea bases and the change agreed relates “to a restoration of a particular service” at Sutton.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The ICR listened and engaged constructively throughout negotiations, tailoring our offer to the needs of colleagues.

“Our priority throughout has been to ensure colleagues are rewarded fairly, in a way that ensures the long-term financial sustainability of the organisation and its life-saving cancer research.”

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