WORKERS who have had their shifts suspended are due to meet with bosses at James Halstead PLC today to resolve an industrial dispute.

Production line workers at the Radcliffe-based company’s flagship Polyflor manufacturing site in Whitefield have been taking industrial action since last month over a pay dispute.

The firm, which marked its centenary year by posting record profits in October, have suspended their guaranteed 40-hour working week, and union representatives claim that their 176 members are being unfairly targeted.

A company spokesman said that short term working had been introduced because they were unable to find cover for sickness absences due to the workers’ overtime ban.

In a letter sent to workers, the company also cited a shortage of orders as a reason for the suspension of shifts.

Members of two other unions represented at the site have accepted the company's offer of a 1.9 per cent pay increase back dated to 1 July 2015 with an additional 1.5 per cent on 1 July 2016.

Sandra Blight, GMB union regional officer, said: “The company had suspended the working week quite some time ago on the basis that they didn’t have sufficient orders. But they always managed to find alternative work for individuals.

“But now, because we have started having an impact by taking industrial action, they have started sending shifts home.

“The only reason they are doing this now is because they are reacting to the dispute and trying to break the strike.

“Everybody who has accepted the pay rise offered by the company is in work. We believe this is being targeted at the people who refused to accept it.

“It’s their centenary year and the group as a whole posted big profits. I don’t doubt that they have a shortage of orders for certain products, but I don’t think sending people home is a necessary action.”

Gordon Oliver, James Halstead PLC finance director, said: “Our workers are all shareholders in the business and we pride ourselves on a motivated workforce.

“Indeed last week each received an average of £2,300 tax free in the form of James Halstead plc shares as part of our employee incentive package.

“The majority of our UK employees have accepted a pay offer well in excess of inflation and it is regrettable that a company that uses overtime to cover absences has been unable to continue to manufacture for even a single shift.

"There are 360 people affected by the shift suspensions, of which around 180 are GMB members, so it's not only affecting them."