WHITE collar and shop workers at Hydrovane Compressor joined forces on Monday to hold a one-day strike over pay.

The factory floor and many offices were left empty when the 300 union members did not turn up for work.

Pickets stood outside the air compressor manufacturers on the Washford Industrial Estate from 6-9.30am in defiance of a five per cent pay offer.

Workers who said the offer was not enough had been staging an overtime ban since last Wednesday.

Union members and management agreed in 1983 to open pay negotiations at the beginning of December hoping to reach agreement by January.

A spokesman for the Amalgamated Engineering Union said: “We want to see an increase on the five per cent offer.

“The object of the strike is to get management back around the table.”

Hydrovane personnel manager, John Tilbrook, said: “Our pay offer of five per cent is considered reasonable in the present circumstances.”