STRIKE action which could have seen library staff in Bordon go on strike on Monday was avoided after crucial talks. Industrial action in the region was averted further to a meeting etween UNISON and Hampshire County Council (HCC) where the unions agreed to cancel the action. HCC leader, Ken Thornber, said: "We held a further meeting with the unions where we put our last and final offer on the table, the very best we can achieve to ensure our libraries are best placed to thrive in the long term and continue providing a high quality service with books at the core. "A ballot held following this meeting has resulted in UNISON calling off industrial action planned for Monday." Libraries in Hampshire have gone on strike before over redundancies and pay cuts and a general restructuring to the service. Mr Thornber added: "We are confident that the new structure will support the transformation of the library service and the changing ways that the people of Hampshire access the services our libraries provide for them. "The dispute now rests solely on the post of library officer and the grading of this role. "To address concerns about those members of staff who will be offered the 17.5 library officer roles we are prepared to consider the introduction of a new role, provisionally titled "advanced library officer". "This will be transitional and aimed to aid the introduction of the new structure by providing a specific resource for learning and development. "We consider there is a need for up to 1of these roles for a period of one year. At the end of the year these 10 staff would transfer to a library officer role profile. "It has been graded using the same valuation system as for all other posts under the new framework and salary protection will apply in accordance with council policies. "The introduction of these roles is dependent upon the cessation of all industrial action and the successful implementation of the new structure without any further delay." The Herald has always understood that there will be no job cuts at Bordon Library and this understanding still remains the same.