WORCESTER-based White Arrow delivery drivers have rejected a second pay offer from employers Reality Group over what workers describe as "bully-boy" tactics to enforce company restructuring.

Industrial action is on the cards as drivers in the Transport and General Workers Unionb call for a postal ballot.

Workers at White Arrow's Worcester and Droitwich depots say a proposed three per cent pay increase is not enough to soften the effect of fundamental changes to the working week.

The changes include a new pay-per-parcel deal - with drivers individually responsible for quotas - while other changes affect the working week.

Drivers have rejected a rolling four day-on, four day-off rota that they fear will swallow weekends.

Letters from the Manchester-based Reality Group - which employs 3,000 people locally - tell staff that rejecting the offer would leave 500 jobs and six depots at stake, and delivery being handled by other companies.

The group has supplied all delivery services for its parent company, catalogue giant Great Universal Stores plc, since May, 2000.

One driver, who asked not to be named, said workers' morale was at an all-time low.

"Hours and shift changes will mean we can't lead normal family lives and have weekends at home. We don't want to work a rolling week, and we don't seem to have any say in the matter," he said.

"The atmosphere's growing increasingly militant. People are very disappointed with the inhuman way Reality treats us employees.

"They're trying to ride roughshod over us. It's rule by fear. The letter is typical of their bully-boy tactics."

Marketing director Steve Johnson said that, while it was already 50 per cent ahead of its nearest delivery competitor Parcel Force, Reality was determined to implement changes to reinforce its round-the-clock service.

"We've done this in an open and frank way," he said. "In no way could the letter be said to be threatening. All we're attempting to achieve is to get to a position to deliver a better level of service."

He claimed jobs would be created and drivers would be have the incentive to earn more.

"We understand that different people have different circumstances, but if we can't deliver these services we'll lose business."