Gate Gourmet and unions have put talks to resolve the ongoing jobs row are on hold after a deal which may help end the crisis was agreed on Thursday.

The caterer and the Transport & General Workers' Union said staff, including 670 sacked workers, will be offered the choice of voluntary redundancy. Those who decide to leave will get compensation.

Some sacked staff may be reinstated.

Further discussions will take place after workers make their wishes known.

Volunteers will be asked to come forward over the next few days, said Gate Gourmet.

However, the issue of alleged militant workers returning is still to be tackled. The Gate Gourmet stance has always been that 200 strikers it branded "troublemakers" among the 670 sacked employees will not be allowed to return.

"Our duty is to protect our 1,400 workers who have stood by us during this time," the company said.

After Thursday’s agreement, a T&G union spokesman said: "It's a step in the process. If you imagine you are trying to climb Mount Everest we have been in the foothills and we are now just about reaching base camp.”

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