A DISPUTE over changes to working practices at a Teesside chemical company has been resolved, bringing to an end the threat of industrial action at the company.

Workers at Teesside Fine Organics objected to plans to change their shift system.

Staff at the company, at Seal Sands, were balloted over possible industrial action following the plans to change from a 12-hour to an eight-hour shift system.

But union officials and bosses at the plant, which produces chemicals for pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals, said the issue had been resolved amicably after talks.

The new shift system will go ahead with revisions on travel expenses, bonus pay, childcare provision and extensions to holidays.

The company said it would be introducing the system from January.

Union officials said that following the completion of talks, they were recommending to staff at the site to vote for the revised offer.

However, the result of the ballot over the new working practices is not expected for another week.

The company employs 300 staff and it is understood the changes will affect the majority of the workers.

Teesside Fine Organics came under the control of Degussa Chemicals following a £1.36bn takeover by German chemical company Degussa-Huls four years ago.

The Seal Sands plant received praise in recent years for dramatically reducing pollution from the site.

The company dropped out of environmental group Friends of the Earth's list of the UK's top ten worst polluter two years ago after it succeeded in reducing emissions from the plant by half.