WORKERS at Nissan's North-East complex are voting in a crucial ballot that could see Europe's most productive car plant embroiled in the first industrial action in its 18-year history.

Bosses at the Sunderland plant have been in talks over pay with the company works council for the past four weeks, with the council pushing for an estimated rise of about six per cent.

Workers voted yesterday on whether to accept a pay offer, believed to be about three per cent, for the financial year 2003/4. The works council put forward the offer without recommendation and the count is expected to be in by Monday.

Unions representing some of the workforce confirmed last night that they were prepared to ballot members over industrial action if workers turned down the offer.

Mel Barras, of Amicus, said: "They are having a vote to see if they will accept the three per cent, so we will know by Monday.

"We have just got to sit and wait and see what happens."

It is the first time in 18 years that pay talks have not been resolved on time. Concern grew last week and after conciliation service Acas was brought in, without success.

Amicus represents about 797 members at Nissan, 17.1 per cent of the 4,672 workforce. Four of its members are on the ten-strong works council.