A union on Wednesday called off a pre-Olympics strike by immigration staff at London's Heathrow Airport, a relief to government officials who sued to try to stop it.

The government's job-creation plans has gone some way toward assuaging the union's concerns over pay and employment, Mark Serwotka of the Public and Commercial Services Union said.

"We're pleased. We've made progress," Serwotka said. "That's why we've made this decision."

The threatened 24-hour-walkout had been timed for Thursday - the day before the 2012 Games' opening ceremony.

Britain's Home Office said Wednesday that it welcomed the decision.