Metaldyne Staff To Strike

Unite members at a Halifax car parts manufacturer are gearing up for a three-day walk-out.

Staff at Metaldyne are protesting over shift changes and a two-year pay freeze.

They have been told they may have to work an extra four hours a week unpaid and face cuts in pay for some shifts.

The strike, set for March 3.

Regional Officer Dick Croft, said industrial action in December had been called off when the firm agreed to revert to normal shift patterns. But the company went back on its word.

Dick said: "There were implied threats of disciplinary action if people didn't comply with the new shift arrangements."

He added: "We don't deny the company has gone through difficult times, like a lot of manufacturing companies. But there are ways and means to resolve the issues.

"We put forward proposals, which we thought we could recommend to our membership but the company dismissed them out of hand and was intent on pursuing its own agend