WORKERS at a Stourport factory have staged two one-day strikes to protest over their proposed annual pay increase.

Yesterday's official walkout by 64 union members at Parsons Chain followed similar action on Wednesday last week.

A picket was in place all day at the front gates of the Worcester Road company, which is part of the engineering group, FKI.

The Stourport firm, which employs about 85 people, supplies chains used in the mining, fishing and engineering industries.

A worker on the picket line, who did not want to be named, said negotiations about the pay rise had been going on since March.

He told the Shuttle/Times and News: "Dialogue has not totally broken down with the management.

"Unfortunately, we have come to this position because the workers do not feel that the company are offering what they can afford.

"Union members decided to take this action after an official ballot. There is also an overtime ban in place.

"Obviously, everyone wants the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible but we will continue until we get what is fair."

Andy Taylor, the Amicus union representative for the Stourport workers, said that "intermittent industrial action" was currently taking place.

He added: "A meeting with the company's management about the situation has been set for Wednesday, October 12.

"That was the earliest date that it could be arranged for."

A spokeswoman from Parsons Chain told the Shuttle/Times and News: "At this moment in time, the management has no comment to make about the situation."