WORKERS at a world-leading aircraft components company are planning to strike after claims management have started transferring work to a business in the South-East.

GMB union members at CAV Aerospace, in County Durham, are to take the first of two days of industrial action on Monday, unless a resolution is found to their dispute with one of Derwentside’s biggest employers.

Although the company, employing nearly 400 people, has made 100 redundancies in the past six months, that is not understood to be the primary reason for the action.

Stephen Thompkins, of the GMB , which represents workers at the plant, said: “The straw which broke the camel’s back was when the employer acquired the premises and business of a factory in Cambridge, and the labour force there. They have transferred work that was meant for Consett to Cambridge, so the members lodged a grievance about the outsourcing of work.

“The company’s argument is that unless they had this facility, they would have lost some work. Our argument is why couldn’t they buy a property here and move the work here which our workforce is capable of doing.”

Mr Thompkins said there has been unrest at the plant for at least six months with staff working a three-day week since January, a pay freeze and the freezing of a system which allowed staff to move up with a substantial pay rise.

There are also grievances over shift payment changes.

He said: “We understand there is a recession, we understand that companies are having a difficult time, but you can’t get away from the fact work meant for Consett is being moved down there.”

The union is due to meet company bosses and ACAS on Thursday, but if talks fail, industrial action is likely to go ahead, involving about 80 staff.

Mr Thompkins said: “There will be strike action on Monday next week and the Tuesday of the following week.

“There will also be an overtime ban from next Monday.”

Last night, a spokesman for CAV said: “We haven’t seen the GMB statement, so it is difficult to comment. We are uncertain of the reasons for the dispute and we are currently continuing discussions facilitated by ACAS, but we can confirm the dispute is not related to recent redundancies.”

The company would not comment on whether it had purchased a business in Cambridge.

Earlier this month, CAV said it was to make 60 redundancies, following on from 40 made in November last year.

Following the latest job cuts, One North East business finance manager Ken Samson said: “One North East is aware of the circumstances facing CAV Aerospace and is working with the company to maximise sustainable long term employment at the Consett factory.”

CAV, which was set up in 1990 with ten employees, is a worldleader in its sector. Every Airbus in operation contains a component made in Consett.

The firm is split into three businesses – CAV Aerospace Ltd, CAV Ice Protection and CAV Emerging Technology.

Last year, the firm received a £249,000 grant from development agency One North East to help fund a £7m expansion.