A ban on overtime, rest day working and late sailings was due to start on Friday, with 24-hour stoppages from noon on April 17 and 23, after members in both companies voted overwhelmingly to take action over the company's initial failure to offer any pay rise this year.

The company has since offer a £500 flat-rate consolidated increase for the current year and three per cent in 2007.

"Our members made it quite clear that they were not prepared to accept what amounted to a pay cut, and the company has responded by tabling a new offer," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Thanks to an overwhelming strike vote the company has shifted from its disgraceful initial position.

"The RMT executive has suspended the action scheduled for the bank-holiday weekend to allow time for our members to vote on whether or not the new offer is acceptable.

"However, the company is well aware that the action is suspended and not cancelled, and that if our members reject the offer the executive will not hesitate to re-schedule industrial action," Bob Crow said.