STAFF at the centre of a long-running industrial dispute have agreed to strike for the third time in four months.

Workers at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, plan to stage the 24-hour walkout next month after attempts to hold talks with company bosses failed.

The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), which represents more than 90 per cent of the workforce of 160, said the strike was unavoidable.

Alan Milne, BFAWU regional officer, said: "The problem is that the company will not negotiate and our members want answers. They are not happy.

"No one gets anywhere by being on the battle line, but if Country Style Foods continues to refuse to talk, then the workers have no other option. This is the last straw.

"All we want is to get people round the table so that we can come to some understanding."

Walkouts have already been held in April and May over a revised contract offered to new staff. Last month, employees began an overtime ban and working-to-rule.

The BFAWU said the new contracts removed bereavement leave and cut overtime rates. Mr Mile said the terms and conditions also forced staff to sign an opt-out clause from the European Working Time Directive and an agreement to work at least 20 hours overtime a week.

"These people aren't on great wages to start with and this has left them very frustrated," said Mr Milne.

"They are desperate now to get something sorted and get things moving."

The BFAWU has been trying to hold talks with bosses at Country Style Foods' head office, in Leeds, since February.

Fears that the company would derecognise the union emerged last month.

"I have written to the company asking what their intentions are, but I have not heard anything from them," said Mr Milne.

The BFAWU yesterday gave Country Style Foods formal notice of the strike, which will run from 6am on Monday, September 5 until 6am the following morning.

The Northern Echo yesterday contacted Tony Wood, chairman of the company, but he declined to comment.