UNION leaders will learn today whether workers have voted to strike for the first time in the history of Nissan's Washington plant - while company bosses remain confident a deal can be struck.

The result of a ballot to down tools had been expected yesterday, but has been delayed due to industrial action by postal workers in London.

Nissan angered staff by announcing plans to move its 60-strong purchasing department to Cranfield, in Bedfordshire, next June.

Last-ditch talks have failed to resolve the issue.

Davey Hall, regional director of union Amicus, said last night: "We will consult with members once the result of the vote is announced.

"If it is a yes vote, it will be up to them to determine what course of action they want to take. A positive vote will, of course, mean that they can go on strike."

The union, which represents 70 per cent of Nissan staff, said a vote against strike action would end the issue.

Mr Hall criticised the company for "stonewalling" the union by refusing to deal with its regional representatives and talking only to the company's works council.

A Nissan spokesman said the company was continuing to talk to the staff council, which includes three Amicus members.

He said the decision to move staff was a global one because Nissan wanted purchasing people to be based alongside its designers. In the UK this was at Cranfield.

The spokesman said Amicus was acting prematurely by asking to be involved at this stage.

He said: "We feel that we have very much fulfilled normal company procedure as was agreed with Amicus.

"And that is that any decision would be at a local level, until such time as the talks needed to be broadened to involve regional representatives of Amicus. We are surprised to see Amicus wanting to change that.

"If at any stage no resolution can be made then the company or the company council can move it on to the next stage."

"We feel very optimistic. We have made a lot of progress with talks we have made," he said.

"We hope that regardless of the result of the ballot, we can use discussions to bring this matter to a swift and amicable conclusion."