WORKERS at Premier Food's Quorn factory on Teesside are to stage two 36-hour walkouts unless crunch talks on Monday resolve a dispute over pay.

Staff at the plant in Billingham, near Stockton, agreed to the stoppages after voting in favour of industrial action in objection to Premier's offer of a three-year fixed pay deal.

The strikes are scheduled to run from 7pm next Friday until 7am on the Sunday, and from 7pm on Thursday, November 9, until 7am the following Saturday.

The Amicus and Transport and General Workers (T&G) unions are meeting company representatives on Monday as a last attempt to resolve the dispute.

Joe Keith, T&G senior regional industrial organiser, said: "We have a meeting with the company to discuss the whole situation. I am always hopeful that the matter can be resolved."

Workers voted in favour of industrial action earlier this month after rejecting Premier's three-year pay offer of a 2.9 per cent rise this year, and a fixed rise of inflation plus 0.5 per cent next year and in 2008.

Mr Keith said yesterday: "We met our members earlier this week and then informed the company that there would be two 36- hour stoppages." He said all 37 staff at the Billingham plant would be involved in the walkouts.

Premier bought Quorn-maker Marlow Foods last year for £172m and in August, the group said strong sales of its Quorn products helped half-year pre-tax profits more than double to £27.9m.

Premier also has a Quorn factory in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, which is not involved in the dispute.

Mr Keith said the firm was trying to avoid the Billingham site having to close during the potential strikes by asking for volunteers from Stokesley.

"Apparently Premier has been trying to encourage workers from Stokesley to work at Billingham should any action go ahead," said Mr Keith.

"Our members are appalled the company is taking this knee jerk reaction instead of wanting to resolve the dispute."

Last night, a Premier spokesman said: "The company is in dialogue with employees in relation to pay and is hopeful that the issue can be resolved amicably."