Tony Zarb yesterday withdrew his letter of resignation as general secretary of the General Workers' Union, only a day after the union had officially announced he was stepping down.

The union said its national council had discussed Mr Zarb's resignation and approved a motion asking him to reconsider the decision.

Representatives of the council then contacted Mr Zarb about the motion and "he decided that in the interest of the organisation and its members he would accept the council's appeal and withdraw his letter of resignation", the union said.

Council members then approved his decision "unanimously and by acclamation".

On Thursday, the union had issued a brief statement in which it said Mr Zarb had decided, of his own accord, to step down in order to fulfil other functions within the union's structures.

On Thursday The Times reported that officials at an internal meeting of the section secretaries and members of the administration had harped on the need to rebuild the union's image following the pro-EU vote.