Electricians working on the Crossrail Project in London are set to take industrial action next week in a dispute over pay.

The 80 workers employed by Balfour Beatty on the Woolwich section of the development will take part in a 24-strike on Wednesday, 10 January.

The employees voted 85% in favour of action following a dispute which concerns the payment of an improved second tier payment and a four-week finishing bonus, payable when the workers are informed they are to be made redundant.

Unite the Union said the action, which is the first time official industrial action has been called on the Crossrail development, comes as the entire scheme has become 'increasingly beset with problems relating to deteriorating industrial relations'.

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Unite's Regional Officer, Guy Langston, said: "We have repeatedly tried to resolve this issue through negotiation but Balfour Beatty has refused to take the workforce's concerns seriously.

"We have had no option but to take strike action, this will undoubtedly cause disruption and could potentially delay the entire project.

"It is imperative that Balfour Beatty recognises the damage strike action will have to the Crossrail project and return to the negotiating table to resolve this issue.

"This ballot is a line in the sand and Unite will back its members to the hilt if further industrial issues develop during the final period of the project Crossrail."

Further dates for strikes are anticipated to be called early in the new year.

(LM/MH)