Strike action at mobile crane hire firm Ainscough yesterday, 01 February, caused a "near total shutdown" of operations, union leaders have said.

Operators at the UK's largest mobile crane hire firm voted 'overwhelmingly' for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

According to union Unite, less then ten of the company's 500 cranes left its 30 depots to go to work on construction sites.

It is understood the strike action is the first in a series of escalating actions planned over the coming weeks until the 23 March.

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In addition, a programme of overtime bans began on 30 January and will end on 20 March.

Unite said it now fears peace talks will break down between the two sides due to attempts by Ainscough to introduce zero hours contracts.

Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay,said: "Our members are highly skilled professionals, operating cranes on some of the UK’s largest construction projects, including the Forth Road Bridge, aircraft carriers in Rosyth and UK-wide rail infrastructure projects.

"However we fear that the drive to lower pay for the workforce won’t stop with this pay offer.  We are extremely concerned that Ainscough is now drawing up plans to rip up the industry-wide agreement by introducing zero hours contracts for a pool of workers.

"These workers will then be on hire and fire contracts reducing them to a disposable workforce.  This will have serious safety implications for what is already one of the most dangerous industries in the country."

A second one day stoppage is planned for Monday, 08 February.

(LM/CD)