HUNDREDS of North-East steelworkers could strike in an escalating pension row, unions have warned.

Staff at Tata Steel will be balloted on potential industrial action next month over proposals to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS).

If workers strike, they would join the first national dispute in more than 30 years.

Tata, which is one of Teesside’s most important employers supporting about 750 jobs, said it was aware of the ballot plans, but added bosses remain open for further talks.

A spokesman also told The Northern Echo the result of any vote will have no impact on its ongoing talks with US billionaire Gary Klesch, who is looking to buy its loss-making Long Products division, which includes the Teesside Beam Mill, at Lackenby, near Redcar.

Unions Community, Unite, GMB and Ucatt say the ballot will open on Wednesday, May 6, and close on Friday, May 29, adding the BSPS had 143,000 members as of late last year, with assets of about £13.6bn.

Roy Rickhuss, National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee chairman, and Community general secretary, said: “Members are determined to stand up for their pension and we have no option but to proceed to an industrial action ballot.

“Closing the pension scheme will not help our members, their families or their communities.

“Steelworkers want to stand up to Tata and stand up for their pension, and a positive vote in the ballot will enable that to happen.”

A Tata Steel spokesman said unions were welcome for more talks, and said it will consider alternative proposals over the BSPS.

He said: “We are aware of the proposed date of the ballot.

“The company tabled proposals to the national officers of the trade unions whereby the defined benefit (final salary) scheme would remain open to future accruals subject to a number of modifications.

“As agreement with the trade unions on these proposals could not be reached, the company has initiated a 60-day statutory consultation period with scheme members on a proposal to close the scheme to future accruals for existing members.

“The consultation process provides opportunities for employees to comment on the proposals and to suggest alternatives that they wish the company to consider, other than the proposal of closure to future accrual.

“The company also remains committed to providing employees with competitive future pension provision.”

Meanwhile, bosses at nearby steelmaker SSI UK, in Redcar, which restarted the blast furnace at the former British Steel site three years ago, said the situation with Tata will have no impact on workers at its site.

A spokesman added: “When the business was sold to SSI, they left that scheme and there was a new scheme put in place.

“There is no direct effect here.”