Workers at Tarmac Building Products are to begin a series of strikes next week due to a dispute over pay and working terms.

Despite talks having been ongoing between the company and union Unite before Christmas, no progress has been made in the negotiations.

Unite said the Stanford Le Hope-based company wants to introduce inferior terms and conditions for new starters, creating a 'two-tier workforce' as new starters will receive less pay than colleagues.

As a result, workers have voted in favour of taking industrial action. A series of 24-hour strikes will begin on Tuesday, 30 January, then take place on 06, 08, 20, 22 February and then on 20 and 22 March.

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Following the notice for strike action, further talks are set to take place on Wednesday, 24 January. However, Unite said the strikes will continue as planned "unless substantial progress is made".

Unite regional officer Guy Langston said: "Unite's members have made it totally clear they will simply not accept their terms and conditions being eroded.

"Tarmac's plan to cut pay for new starters is the thin edge of the wedge. Our members believe that if this is unchallenged it will lead to further attacks on terms and conditions.

"Our members are only taking strike action as a last resort as a result of the company's refusal to negotiate. Strike action will create serious disruption to Tarmac's business but managers has brought this on themselves."

(LM)