WORKERS at Eastleigh cable-making giant Pirelli have voted to strike in a row over pay.

"Frustrating" pay negotiations broke down after Pirelli bosses reportedly refused to budge from a 2.6 per cent offer. Members of two unions have backed a walk-out.

Amicus union workers are to mount pickets on the gates of the Chickenhall Lane, Bishopstoke facility on Monday.

About 150 T&G union members have also voted to strike and are to decide tomorrow whether to walk out on Tuesday.

Union bosses said the strikes could be just the first of a series of walkouts if the dispute is not sorted out soon.

Workers say they are underpaid by local market standards and would need a 7.5 per cent pay rise to bring their wages into line.

Mike Budd of Amicus, which represents nine workers, said: "We believe our workers are being underpaid at the moment.

"We are not asking for a correction in one go, we are just asking for an improvement."

A spokesman for Italian-owned Pirelli refused to comment.