A strike ballot is being planned by drivers at building supply firm Marshalls due to a dispute on overtime pay, it has been announced.

Union Unite is planning action for the drivers that deliver to customers from 14 manufacturing sites across the UK.

Currently, drivers receive time and a third for overtime worked, while manufacturing employees get time and a half.

In addition, extra pressure is being put on the conflict due to the company's chief executive Martin Coffey receiving an 87% increase to his remuneration package last year, taking it to over £2 million a year.

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With Marshalls' two biggest customers Travis Perkins and Jewson, having 2,500 outlets between them, Unite said the action could cause 'severe disruption to the building trade.'

Unite national officer for building trades, John Allott, said: "We are preparing to hold an industrial action ballot on the inequality in overtime rates between the drivers and the manufacturing workforce.

"We are calling for fairness on this issue, especially given the massive hike in Martin Coffey's executive pay.

"The two biggest customers of Marshalls - Travis Perkins and Jewson - will be severely hit, with a big ripple effect on their own customers, if strike action goes ahead.

"We call on the company to sit down and negotiate on the issue of our members' overtime pay, so we can reach a fair settlement."

(LM)