Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members have suspended three-day strike action at the CQC next week after the regulator said it will be making a £1,500 cost-of-living payment promised by the government to civil servants.

The move comes after the CQC told its recognised unions it will be making the payment in line with the addendum to the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance for 2023/24.

Action by 90 members of the union had been planned for July 26, 27 and 28 after the PCS accused the regulator of refusing to make the payment.

The CQC confirmed the payment will be made on a pro-rata basis, meaning part-time staff will not receive as much as full-time workers.

The regulator also confirmed only staff who were in post before 31 March 2023 and who are still in post as of 1 August 2023 will be eligible.

The PCS welcomed the news as a “positive development” and said it will be consulting with its members on whether to accept the offer and bring a formal end to the dispute.

“We will be meeting with CQC in the coming weeks to begin negotiations on the 2023/24 pay award and we look forward to engaging constructively with the employer,” the union said.

Unions have been staging work-to-rule and strike action at the regulator since April.