THERE were fears last night that food factory workers at the centre of an industrial dispute may lose their union representation.

If the owners of Country Style Foods, in Stockton, de-recognise the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU), that would mean the company breaking off all contact with the organisation.

Alan Milne, of BFAWU, has vowed to continue to fight for the interests of staff and take the matter to the arbitration service Acas if necessary.

Country Style Foods entered into a voluntary agreement recognising the union, but it can end that agreement by giving three months' notice.

If the agreement was to end, Mr Milne said the union would make an application for recognition to the Central Arbitration Committee, a permanent independent body with statutory powers.

He said: "I think the company is considering de-recognising the union.

"If that happens the next step will be to go to the arbitration committee and go through the process to get a legal agreement for negotiations."

Staff at the factory have already staged two walkouts in April and May in protest at a revised contract offered to new staff. Last week, workers began an overtime ban and a work-to-rule.

BFAWU, which represents 99 per cent of the workforce, said the contract had removed bereavement leave, cut overtime rates and forced staff to opt out of the European Working Time Directive.

Mr Milne, who said he had been barred from entering the Stockton site, has written a number of letters to bosses urging them to hold discussions.

"I wrote another letter last week, but I haven't heard anything back, they are still not talking to us," he said.

"The staff are disgusted that the company wants to carry on with this dictatorial type of employer relationship.

"They want some improvements to the terms and conditions in their contract that they have had in the past."

He said a third strike was still a possibility if Country Style Foods continues to ignore the situation.

The Northern Echo yesterday contacted Tony Wood, chairman of the family-owned company, but he declined to comment.