STRIKE action has left half the workforce at a plastics factory worse off than their colleagues, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Striking staff at British Polythene Industries (BPI), in Stockton have ended up with a pay rise 0.3 per cent less than their co-workers, who did not take industrial action.

The figures came out last night after the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) called an end to its long-running dispute at the Yarm Road plant, which is also known as Visqueen.

Joe Keith, regional organiser for the TGWU, said: "Members have decided to draw a line under this. There will be no more industrial action regarding the 2004 pay deal."

The workforce first threatened industrial action after being offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase in July. Half the staff, made up of non-union workers and members of Amicus, accepted an improved pay offer of a self-financed 2.8 per cent last autumn.

But the other half, members of the TGWU, turned down the deal and went on strike for three per cent.

After talks brokered by conciliation service Acas, BPI made a final offer of 2.8 per cent to the TGWU. But management warned this would be withdrawn if further strike action was taken.

Workers voted five to one against the deal and staged another one-day strike last week.

The union announced an end to all industrial action yesterday, but has been told the 2.8 per cent deal will not be reinstated.

This means that about 180 workers at the plant have had a 2.8 per cent rise, while the 180 TGWU workers have only received 2.5 per cent.

The TGWU members downed tools for six days in the past two months - so have also lost their attendance bonus, worth another 2.5 per cent of their annual wage.

BPI managing director Steve Moss said: "People who took strike action will lose their attendance allowance. This has been a very regrettable situation. In disputes like this, there is never a winner."

Mr Keith said the end of industrial action was not an admission of defeat.

"What they have done is brought the first strike here for 20-odd years and lost six days of production. It is the economics of bedlam."

He said the dispute had left his union's relationship with Visqueen in tatters.

Both sides have agreed to sit down with Acas within the next two weeks to look at how this can be remedied.