FIVE hundred workers employed by French-owned energy juggernaut EDF hailed victory yesterday as Unite the union announced they had won an improved pay settlement.

The dispute involved three separate pay issues, including the company agreeing a pay increase for one group of workers then refusing to implement it.

Backed by Unite, they went on strike on three days and staged other selective industrial action.

“This is a great victory for Unite members at EDF Energy. The improved offer is the result of our members standing together and taking strike action and threatening more action, if an improved offer was not delivered,” said Unite regional officer Onay Kasab.

The workers install electricity meters and deal with alleged electricity theft in the London, south-eastern, south-west and eastern regions.

Yesterday’s settlement includes a 2 per cent pay increase backdated to April 2013 and an across-the-board lump sum payment of £480.

Negotiations will now start on a pay increase for 2014.

“The company will now know that we are serious when we say that Unite will take action. They need to heed the warning and make our members a decent offer for 2014,” said Mr Kasab.

“The campaign gained much public sympathy as we captured the fact that this company makes inflation-busting energy price hikes, while refusing to keep wages up with inflation.”

French state-owned EDF both generates and supplies electricity. It employs 13,158 people and has 5.7 million customers.