COMPANY bosses may face renewed calls to create a better work/life balance for their employees in the wake of a significant union victory.

The General and Municipal Boilermakers Union (GMB) successfully fought to reduce hours while getting an above-inflation pay deal for 7,000 disabled workers.

Remploy, which finds work for people with a range of mental, emotional and physical disabilities, agreed improved working conditions for its staff at 80 locations.

More than 600 employees at eight sites in Yorkshire and the North-East will now work a 35-hour week if they vote to accept the deal.

Many work in relatively low-paid jobs, the bulk of which is in assembly work for many of the countries major employers, including Ford, Unipart, and Toshiba.

The cut in working hours was last night heralded as a significant achievement by the GMB.

It is the culmination of several years' bartering, which has seen the working week gradually reduced from 38 hours at Remploy sites.

The UK's largest employer of disabled people also finds jobs for a further 5,000 workers in other companies where that firm's pay and conditions structure applies.

Derek Cattell, GMB regional organiser , said: "The Remploy deal is a significant development which could affect the bargaining agenda in other causes and industries now we have cracked the 35-hour week.

"There is a great deal of interest among not only Remploy people, but everyone in general about the hours worked and lifestyles."

A ballot is being taken among members to approve the deal. A decision is expected to be announced by August 25.

Ray Fletcher, Remploy director of human resources, said: "This is a ground-breaking proposal. It will place Remploy employees among the leading manufacturing companies in terms of hours of work as well as demonstrating the way Remploy has been repositioning itself as a modern and flexible organisation for the demands of today's markets."

The move by Remploy headed off threatened industrial action after a pay deal put to union members was rejected.

The company improved the offer as well as giving a consolidating bonus of £2.37 a week for lower paid employees. The pay increase means an extra £9 a week for both disabled and able-bodied employees.

Across the region, Remploy has bases in Ashington, Hartlepool, Jarrow, Newcastle, Spennymoor, Stockton, Sunderland and York.