THE threat of a first strike in its history still lingered over Nissan's North-East plant last night.

While efforts continued on-site to resolve the outstanding pay and conditions settlement three weeks after it should have been implemented, engineering union chiefs in the region said members at Nissan may yet be balloted over action.

Amicus warned yesterday that the motor company, free of disputes in its 18 years on Wearside, was coming "dangerously close" to a stoppage.

The union is unhappy at the three per cent pay offer believed to have been made by Nissan to the company works council for the years 2003/4.

Workers' representatives on the company council are believed to be seeking a six per cent increase.

Amicus is also angry that regional officers have not been invited to try to resolve the dispute, as negotiations have so far remained "in-house" between the company and the works council.

As part of the procedure, conciliation service Acas was brought in last Friday, without success.

Amicus represents about 797 members at Nissan, 17.1 per cent of the 4,672 workforce, and said four of its members are on the ten-strong works council.

The union's regional secretary Davey Hall said last night: "There was a belief that they were going to put the offer to the workforce.

"Now what they are saying is that there will be further on-site discussions taking place.

"An intricate part of the agreement between Nissan and ourselves provides for our involvement, and we are saying we want to be part of that.

"If the wages offer is rejected by the employees, and the company does not involve the trade union, we will be duty bound to consult our members on the potential for an industrial action ballot."

But company spokesman David Swerdlow said last night: "We are still talking to the company council to get an agreement. That's the case at the moment.

"The decision over whether or not to involve a third party lies with the company council.

"They are at liberty to bring in a union representative if they think it necessary."

It is the first time the settlement has not been resolved on time since the plant opened in 1985.