UNION leaders last night hailed a deal that offers hope to workers facing pay cuts of up to £3,000.

The Northern Echo revealed last month that Cummins Engine Company, in Darlington, had proposed a wage restructuring scheme that would see 95 of the 800 workers at the plant lose more than £60 a week.

Workers and unions have since been negotiating with the company.

However, union officials last night confirmed that 14 workers at the Yarm Road plant who are over 60 will no longer be included in the wage restructuring. This will protect their final salary pensions.

Gerry Hunter, from trade union Amicus, said: "This is important because these 14 people are near pension age and it would be an almost immediate loss to them.

"It would seriously affect the rest of their lives, not just their working lives, as they wouldn't have the chance to make any other arrangement."

He said several workers in the materials handling department, who are facing the biggest pay cuts, may be moved to the engine building department, allowing them to avoid the changes.

"There are vacancies in the engine building department at present," he said.

"That number can vary on a weekly basis, so we are hoping to give these to material handlers."

Cummins launched a review of its pay scales after complaints from some of its workforce.

The changes will see some workers' wages remain static, while others will rise. This would lead to cuts of up to £3,000 a year, although the company said that would only affect a tiny minority of staff.

A spokesman said: "This is not a cost-cutting measure. The overall wage bill will go up.

"We are bringing through a wage structure that is fair to all employees."

Two-thirds of the workforce will be unaffected by the review and just over 100 will receive a pay rise.

Talks between the two sides are continuing.

Mr Hunter said: "We have had to look at the proposals in so much detail, almost forensically, to see where we could push for allowances.

"We have to put right what we believe is wrong."