Employees protested outside a North-East store at the weekend in a battle for union recognition.

Shopfloor workers at MFI handed leaflets to customers arriving at the Middlesbrough retail warehouse and lobbied them for their support.

The protest was organised by the ISTC (Iron and Steel Trades Confederation), which claims to represent 50 per cent of MFI's staff -- but is not recognised by the flat-pack furniture company.

ISTC anger follows its refusal to make a presentation to top company management to allow executives to choose which unions should represent their employees.

A company spokesman said: "MFI held a beauty parade of unions early in the summer. The ISTC were invited, but did not attend. From that meeting the T&G was chosen.''

Local ISTC organiser Heather Meldrum said: "We did not attend the beauty parade because the presentation was to be to senior management.

"We were quite happy to make a presentation to the workforce.

"But it was to be up to the management to make a decision and we did not feel we could be a party to that.''

She said: "We have to make a stand. MFI has refused to recognise us and they refused to allow the workforce to decide who they wished to have as their trade union."