MADRID, Dec 23 Reuters A union representing shop assistants at fashion retailer Zara has called off planned strikes in the company39;s hometown in northern Spain following an agreement on a pay rise, a union leader said on Friday.

Around 1,000 workers at Zara shops and other Inditex fashion brands had announced they would strike on Dec. 23 and Jan. 7 to demand higher wage increases after rejecting the company39;s previous offer.

They had already gone on strike during the 39;Black Friday39; sales rush on Nov. 2425.

Inditex has now agreed to pay 322 euros 341.38 more per month to shop assistants who work at its 44 stores in A Coruña, where the fashion giant has its headquarters on the city39;s outskirts, CIG union leader and Zara retail assistant Carmiña Naveiro said on Friday. Workers will also get a oneoff bonus of 1,000 euros to be paid in February.

Inditex did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CIG had pushed for a bigger pay rise after rejecting a hike of 200 euros in monthly salaries by 2024.

The company will start to pay the newly agreed wages in January, Naveiro said.

1 0.9432 euros

Reporting by Corina Pons; Editing by David Latona and Kenneth Maxwell

Source Reuters