A UNION representing North-East steel workers says staff could strike.

Unite says 29 workers at Tata Steel’s Teesside Technology Centre, in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, have voted for action against proposals it says could move their employment to a separate organisation.

The union says workers’ pay and pensions could be affected by any moves to shift staff to Tata’s Materials Processing Institute, which was set up by the steel maker.

Paul Reuter, Unite national officer, said: “Our members have a strong wish to remain employed by Tata Steel UK and not be employed by Materials Processing Institute, an arm’s length organisation.

“The basis for this is that our members feel that their terms and conditions will be best protected by maintaining the identity of their current employer.”

However, a Tata Steel spokesman said: “Discussions are taking place with a number of business partners to transform the Teesside Technology Centre into an independent open-access shared research and development facility, as announced earlier this year.

“These discussions have been progressing for several months.

“Employees have been involved throughout and have participated in working groups looking at how the new institute will operate.

“Widening the scope of the facility beyond Tata Steel would allow it to develop collaborative programmes with a wide range of partners and enable it to build a sustainable future.”