STEEL workers have decided to pursue a pay rise after Corus said it would be freezing wages across the company while providing an increase for its Dutch staff.

Last year, the Anglo Dutch firm axed 6,000 jobs nationwide, including 1,100 on Teesside. The company blamed overcapacity in the market and the strength of the pound against the Euro. In the 12 months since, the company says that market forces have not changed significantly and it cannot put up wages.

The move deepened unease among workers at Lackenby, Redcar, Stockton, Hartlepool and Skinningrove in a company where morale is already low. Tony Poynter, chairman of the multi-union steel committee on Teesside, said the workforce wanted union officials to pursue their pay rise and the subject will be on the agenda at the national Standards Committee meeting on March 18.

"There we will get the views from all the plants across the country as to how we will pursue it," he said. "What has upset us, to some extent, is the agreement in Holland, because they are getting a seven per cent pay rise in a 26-month deal.

"We know the rates of inflation are different, but even so. We will pursue our pay claim and we will determine how to do that at our next meeting."