WORKERS at Bishopstoke's giant cablemaking company Pirelli were on strike today in a row over pay.

About 40 members of the cable accessories department had downed tools to man picket lines at the gates of the Chickenhall Lane plant.

Workers have warned that the industrial action could escalate to further one-day strikes if an improved pay offer was not made.

As reported in the Daily Echo last week, staff at the Italian-owned cable manufacturing giant voted in favour of strike action after pay negotiations with bosses broke down.

The company's final offer of a 2.6 per cent pay rise was rejected by workers, who argue that a 7.5 per cent rise would be needed to put their wage in line with local market standards.

A further 140 employees in the cablemaking department of the firm have also voted to strike and will today decide on whether to join their colleagues in a walkout next week.

Colin Lumber of the Transport and General Workers' Union said: "The strike is by a fairly small workforce in the cable accessories department, but we have another 140 cablemakers who will decide to confirm strike action on Tuesday, February 8.

"The workers would like to negotiate for a better offer."

Union bosses from the T&G and Amicus unions have said today's action could be the first in a series of walk-outs.

Mike Budd of Amicus said: "We believe these skilled workers are being underpaid. The 2.6 per cent would give them £9.10 an hour, which we believe is below the market rate. We are not asking for a correction in one go, we are just asking for an improvement."

Shop steward Martin Slater, 37, a skilled machinist, described the 2.6 per cent as a "derisory", take-it-or-leave-it offer.

He said: "This is one day of action but there is a strong possibility that there could be more."

Mr Slater said there was 100 per cent support from the workers for the strike action.

David Randall, 61, a coppersmith, who has worked at Pirelli for 39 years, said: "We have been given a very poor offer. The management is adamant that there is no more money on the table."

And he said that they were prepared to continue their action for as long as it took.

A spokesman for Pirelli was unavailable for comment.