STRIKE action at Premier Food's Quorn factory on Teesside could be averted if workers agree to a revised two-year pay deal.

Premier was locked in talks with unions for three hours yesterday in a bid to avoid two 36-hour walk-outs, the first of which is due to take place on Friday.

The unions will now take the new pay offer back to workers at Premier's Billingham factory, who will decide by Thursday whether to accept the deal or reject it and strike.

Joe Keith, senior regional industrial organiser at the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), said: "The management came back with a revised offer, which we feel obliged to put to the members.

"It was a difficult meeting where both sides cleared the air."

All 37 workers at the Billingham plant have been involved in the pay dispute with Premier after rejecting a three-year pay offer of a 3.8 per cent rise this year, and a fixed rise in inflation plus 0.5 per cent next year and in 2008.

Yesterday, Premier came back with a two-year deal on the same terms - a 3.8 per cent rise this year and a fixed rise in inflation plus 0.5 per cent in 2007.

The company told The Northern Echo: "Things have progressed well. The actual terms haven't changed but the time frame has been revised from three years to two.

"It is by no means done and dusted. It still has to be voted on, but Premier is very happy that things have remained amicable."

The T&G and Amicus unions will meet with workers tomorrow (WED) to discuss the revised pay offer.

Bob Bolam, Amicus regional officer, said: "We are going back to members on Wednesday evening to discuss whether or not to accept the revised offer or continue with the strike."

A ballot will be held and the decision will be known by Thursday lunchtime.

Workers have already agreed to two stoppages, scheduled to run from 7pm on Friday until 7am on Sunday, and from 7pm on Thursday, November 9, until 7am the following Saturday.

Workers at Premier's Quorn factory in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, are not involved in the dispute.