WORKERS at Steel giant Corus are to be balloted on whether to accept a new pay deal, the union Unite said today.

Unite national officer Terry Pye described the deal, worth 3.2per cent and backdated to April, as a breakthrough.

Corus is also offering its workers, of which 3,000 are based in the North-East despite the mothballing of Teesside Cast Products at Redcar, a one-off payment of £200.

Mr Pye said the proposed deal would help rebuild trust between workers and management.

The result of the ballot will be revealed in september.