Union campaigners were celebrating victory yesterday after bosses at a Marks & Spencer depot reinstated two sacked workers who a manager called “Indian bastards.”

Members of general union GMB were due to ballot on strike action at the depot in Swindon, which is operated on behalf of M&S by Wincanton. The ballot has been postponed after the reinstatement, as has a demonstration planned for tomorrow.

But GMB said it will continue to campaign against racist behaviour by management at the depot.

The union said a white manager approached two Indian GMB members on December 1, who falsely accused them of talking instead of working.

According to the union, the manager said: “I am going to teach you Indian bastards a lesson” and sacked them.

GMB regional officer Carole Vallelly said: “It is fantastic news that Wincanton have retracted the disgraceful sacking of two GMB members after a racist manager called them ‘Indian bastards.’ GMB will not tolerate racism.”

A mass meeting after the reinstatement called off the strike ballot and demonstration.

Ms Vallelly said: “Our members are delighted that standing strong together has secured this victory. Yesterday there was a 100 per cent solid boycott of the Wincanton Christmas lunch on the late shift by GMB members in solidarity with their sacked colleagues.

“However, we do expect that Marks & Spencer and Wincanton will deal with this racist manager. If we find that he has not been dealt with, then we will restart our campaign.”