UNIONS are to meet bosses from chemicals group Huntsman next week in the hope of resolving a dispute over pay.

The GMB and Unite unions are concerned that about 200 workers at the Huntsman Tioxide Greatham Works, near Hartlepool, are missing out on bonus payments.

They say the main contractors based on the site, including Cordell, Booths, Watson and Norrie, are not acting in accordance with the National Engineering Construction Industry Agreement.

The Northern Echo reported last week that union representatives had been escorted off the Huntsman site when attempting to hand out letters to employees about wage negotiations and bonus pay.

Shortly after the article appeared in the paper, Huntsman said it was prepared to sit down with the GMB and Unite to discuss the situation.

Jimmy Skivington, regional organiser for the GMB, said: "We have offered them three dates next week to meet up, so hopefully that will happen.

"Huntsman got in touch with Ian Davies (of the Amicus section of Unite) pretty soon after the article appeared in The Northern Echo, wishing to talk about the situation, so it had the desired effect."

The unions say that the contractors on site have failed to negotiate terms and conditions and, therefore, workers are missing out on bonus payments of up to 60p per hour on top of their basic pay, which they are entitled to under the national agreement.

Mr Skivington hopes the meeting with Huntsman will lead to talks with the contractors.

"Huntsman is the client and the job is getting done for them.

"They are the owners of the land and they appoint the managing contractor and sub- contractors - so on that basis they are the main people to see," he said.

"Hopefully, out of that meeting will come another meeting with the managing contractor and the likes of Cordell."