CHRISTMAS strikes by workers at housing charity Shelter have been called off after Unite members voted to accept an offer on pay and conditions.

About 550 staff at the homelessness charity had backed industrial action in a dispute.

But the strikes were averted after workers overwhelmingly accepted an offer that will reduce the working week from 37 hours to 35 hours.

Unite said the change is equivalent to a pay rise of more than 5 per cent.

Staff will also receive two additional days of annual leave. Both improvements will take effect from January 1 2026.

Unite regional officer Peter Storey said: “Through extensive negotiations, we were offered a much-improved deal which members overwhelmingly voted to accept.

“We are pleased to have avoided industrial action and look forward to working with management to negotiate further improvements to jobs, pay and conditions at Shelter.”

Shelter chief operating officer Tim Gutteridge also welcomed the agreement, saying: “Our ambition has always been to compensate colleagues fairly while ensuring we can keep delivering our front-line and campaigning work.”