UNION representatives were called in yesterday as a pay dispute erupted at telecommunications company Orange.

The mobile phone company has announced a pay review for front-line staff, but is facing criticism from a large number of employees over the way it has been introduced.

The company's customer service representatives (CSRs) have been told that their basic salary will increase to £11,000 this month, rising to £11,500 after a six-month probation period.

Wages would rise again to £12,000 per year after a "continuation of development" period of about 12 months' service.

But many employees at the firm's Darlington site contacted The Northern Echo to tell of their anger at a rule which states that anyone with a disciplinary record would not be entitled to the rise.

One said that about 60 per cent of the workforce had voiced their disapproval at the move - particularly as having "too many" days off sick was considered a disciplinary offence.

"The managers have already received numerous letters about this," she said. "Too many days off gets you a verbal warning - it's a scandal."

Another worker, who asked not to be named, said: "There are a lot of disgruntled people here. It's not a happy place at the moment."

Orange employs about 6,000 people at its call centres in Darlington, Peterlee and North Tyneside.

A spokeswoman for the company confirmed that any member of staff with a disciplinary record would not be considered for a pay rise until the next salary review, subject to their warning expiring.

"We are confident that this will only affect a small number of employees and the vast majority of our CSRs have excellent employment records," she said.

Union officials spoke to employees in Darlington yesterday morning after hearing of the concerns.

The salary increase is not the annual cost-of-living rise, which will be paid at the start of the year.

The spokeswoman said: "Except for the increase to the basic starting salary, additional increases are dependent upon satisfactory performance and no disciplinary record. This was communicated to all employees in August when the increases were first announced."