UNION chiefs are in talks with lawyers over a simmering dispute between workers and management at telecommunications firm Orange.

The Northern Echo reported last week how a row had broken out over a pay review for front-line staff at the company, which operates sites in Darlington, Peterlee, in east Durham, and on North Tyneside.

Orange has announced that all customer service representatives (CSRs) would be paid at least £11,000, which is the basic wage for new starters at the company.

Wages would rise again to £12,000 per year after a "continuation of development" period of about 12 months' service, according to the company, which insists it represents excellent news for the vast majority of employees.

But the ISTC, which is the principal union representing workers at Orange, said it was furious at the company's move.

Union leaders argue that it means many experienced staff have not been offered the higher increments of up to £12,000, which they feel their work deserves.

And officials claimed yesterday that they had received telephone calls from disgruntled senior employees about a rule which states that anyone with a disciplinary record would not be entitled to a rise.

Heather Meldrum, ISTC organiser, said disciplinary records due to sickness were the chief area of concern from the workers who had contacted the union.

She said: "We are still receiving lots of phone calls. We will be having a look through contracts and getting our lawyers to have a look at them.

"Most of the disciplinary records are related to being off sick.

"We strongly believe it is our duty to ensure Orange treats its members with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"We have written to management asking them to meet us to discuss this matter, which has caused such anger among the workforce," she said.

However, a company spokeswoman said sickness only resulted in disciplinary records if there was not a valid reason for absence.

She added that only a small minority of employees were affected by the stipulation and that most CSRs had excellent employment records.

ISTC representatives handed out leaflets to Darlington workers yesterday morning, informing them about the latest situation.