ABOUT 150 workers at a chilled food factory are expected to carry out their third strike next month.

Staff at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, voted for a walkout and other action, such as an overtime ban.

The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) has issued a last-ditch plea to company bosses urging them to hold discussions.

Alan Milne, the union's regional officer, said: "I have again written to the company and again requested they talk to us.

"The only way we are going to solve this issue is by sitting around the table and ironing it out."

He said the company had so far refused to speak to the union and would not talk to conciliation service Acas.

Mr Milne said that if he received no answer from the company, staff would work-to-rule and take further strike action.

Workers staged two walkouts last month and in April, in protest at a revised contract offered to new staff.

BFAWU, which represents 99 per cent of the workforce, said that has removed paid bereavement leave and cut overtime rates. It also forced staff to sign an opt-out of the European Working Time Directive.

Mr Milne is also calling for a Health and Safety Executive investigation at the plant, on Preston Park Industrial Estate, after bosses hired 40 agency staff.

These are mainly foreign nationals who do not speak English and the union is concerned they are unaware of safety guidelines.

The Northern Echo last night contacted Tony Wood, chairman of Leeds-based Country Style Foods, but he declined to comment.