(Sharecast News) - Heathrow ground handling staff employed by Menzies have accepted an improved pay deal, ending the threat of strike action at the airport, the Unite union said on Friday.

More than 400 workers accepted a pay increase of 9.5% backdated to May, with an extra 1% from January. A three-day strike action planned to begin on Thursday December 29 has been called off.

Staff held a 72 hour strike action last month, and had been due to strike again on Friday 16 December - but suspended that action after receiving the improved offer by the company.

"Unite made it clear from the outset that we believed that Menzies could afford to make our members a fair offer and that proved to be the case," said the union's regional officer Kevin Hall.

"Unite will now be building on this dispute to continue to ensure that our members receive fair pay increases in the future."

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com