STRIKING crane drivers picketed in Stockton today (Monday, February 1) as part of a national strike.

Staff at Ainscough Crane Hire staged the walkout, with escalating strikes and an overtime ban planned for the coming weeks, until mid March.

The strikes are affecting many building sites across the region, from new developments to ongoing construction projects, including at Wilton and Haverton Hill in Teesside.

Trade union Unite, which represents 500 crane operators and support staff members, said pickets had been out at the company's 30 UK depots, including its branches at Stockton and Washington in the North-East.

Stockton shop steward Stephen Waller said about 16 drivers went out in Teesside, affecting new builds, Network Rail, and industry such as the energy-from-waste plant in Teesside.

Unite said the "rock-solid" strike action at the UK's largest mobile crane hire firm had caused a "near shutdown" of operations.

Members had voted in favour of strike action by 90 per cent, on an 83 per cent turnout, to reject a two-year pay deal offered by the company.

The union said Ainscough had attempted to introduce zero hours contracts to the industry, undermining the existing collective agreement, which it said would have "serious safety implications for what is already one of the most dangerous industries in the country".

An Ainscough spokesman said “We absolutely are not replacing full time crane operators with zero hours contracts.

"What we have done is set up a small temporary labour pool of fully qualified personnel to assist in peak periods”