The strike threatened to plunge Hertfordshire bus services into chaos, but a new pay deal has now been reached with Arriva following a vote yesterday (September 18), and the industrial action has been called off. Unite the Union members will see their pay increase up to 5.8 per cent dependent on role. Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge added: "Our members were prepared to take strike action in their fight for better pay and their determination has seen them win a new and improved pay deal. In a statement to this newspaper, a spokesperson for Arriva said the operator was "relieved" that customers would not be impacted by the strike action. "We are pleased that constructive discussions with Unite have led to an agreement, meaning planned strike action will not go ahead," the spokesperson said.