WORKERS at a carpet underlay firm could down tools and strike after seven workers were sent home without pay.

Management at Duralay, Broadway, Haslingden, and the 120 workers who belong of the GMB union have reached a stalemate over pay.

Full-time branch secretary Noel Jackson said: "We had a meeting with management and unfortunately they were not prepared to improve their offer of 2.75 per cent so we have a stalemate situation. The overtime ban is indefinite and the possibility it could escalate is very real because of the company's decision to send people home without pay."

Mr Jackson explained the union has an agreement with the company of a 'guaranteed working week' and in return workers will cover shifts on an overtime basis when there is a 'man down'. He said because the overtime ban was in place when there was not a full shift all seven workers were sent home.

Mr Jackson said: "We are pursuing the legality of the company's action in making unlawful deductions in people's pay.

"One thing the management suggested was to reduce the work force by ten by cancelling the contracts of people who were on long term sick and redistributing the wages among the work force.

"Legally they can do it but there is absolutely no way the union would agree to that. We are not mercenary. We are not going to trade people's jobs to resolve a dispute.

"The door is open to get back round the table and we will be guided by our members."

No-one at Duralay was available to comment today. Last week personnel director Gordon Fletcher said: "Some employees have refused overtime but it is not affecting production, nor sales, nor deliveries."