HUNDREDS of maintenance technicians at car producer Nissan have signed a letter detailing grievances at the 24-hour shift patterns being introduced at the site.

About 260 staff have supported the call to highlight the problems they see will be the result of the switch to the new shift system.

According to one of the technicians, who has contacted The Northern Echo, management has banned all newspaper cuttings referring to the Sunderland site and shift work at the maintenance workshops, under the threat of disciplinary action.

But management has rejected any claims of threatened disciplinary action, saying that discussions about the proposed changes have been on-going for months.

Philip Ashmore, personnel director at the Sunderland plant, said: "We did receive a letter from maintenance technicians which we have responded to."

Mr Ashmore added: "We didn't write back because we believe in talking to the workers face to face."

But one of the technicians told The Northern Echo: "Technicians are demotivated, unhappy, and job hunting like never before.

"Nissan is sticking its head in the sand hoping that the problem will go away and knowing that we have to do as we are told."

The problems relate to the switch to 24-hour production in a bid to safeguard the plant's future, and that of its 5,000 workers.

The plant is battling against the strong pound and competition from Europe to land production of the new Micra small car, worth £200m.

Workers are concerned that they are moving from a three-shift eight-hour rota to a three-shift 12-hour rota for less pay.

The technician said: "The shifts are not very sociable.

"At present we get 27 per cent shift pay for doing a three-shift rota - including earlies, lates and nights.

"They are giving us no choice but to go on to a three-shift 12-hour rota for 23 per cent shift pay.