WORKERS at a North-East factory have voted to go on strike for the first time in the plant's history.

About 200 members of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) at Schott Industrial Glass, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, are to take part in the first strike at the site for 24 years.

The workers are involved in a dispute over pay and conditions. An overtime ban is already in force.

Union leaders have described the action as a last resort, following the breakdown of talks which have been going on since last September.

The strike will begin at 10pm tomorrow, and will continue until 10pm on Monday.

Tim Bush, regional industrial organiser of the TGWU, said: "It is to do with the annual wage rise.

"The company has not come up with an increase which is acceptable to the workers and they are taking the ultimate sanction."

He refused to reveal the figures involved in the dispute, saying only that action had been taken after a meeting with the conciliation service Acas, on Monday, failed to break the impasse.

He said: "After long and protracted negotiations, the company has failed to come up with an offer which is acceptable to its employees.

"We have used the facilities of Acas to try to reach an agreement, but this has failed.

"Sadly, for the first time in the company's 24-year history, members will take part in strike action from 10pm Thursday night until 10pm next Monday night, and further action is planned."

The German company produces glass for the domestic goods industry, which includes microwave over doors and television screens.

Mr Bush said: "Twenty-four years is a long time and there is a good industrial relations history at the plant, so it is unfortunate we have had to take this action."

Managers at the factory received notification of the strike last week. No one from Schott was available for comment yesterday.