WORKERS at Vauxhall Motors in Ellesmere Port have voted for industrial action.

Of 3,000-plus Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) members balloted at the North Road plant, 75% backed a call for action.

But 88% of the members said they supported all forms of industrial action short of a full strike. The turnout was 67% - high for a union ballot.

Mick Whitley, the TGWU's regional industrial organiser, based in Liverpool, said his members were un-happy with a two-year pay offer.

He explained: 'There are a number of issues here we find unacceptable. We don't want to go from weekly to monthly pay, see Vauxhall cutting wages for contractors or see temporary workers having their six-month minimum contracts being reduced to three months.'

Over the past fortnight, workers have been balloted on the pay deal, which would be worth 3% in the first

year and the rate of inflation in year two. Voting closed on Monday.

Mr Whitley added: 'We will now organise a meeting of the joint negotiating committee and the company.'

Vauxhall spokesman David Crundwell said while the company had the TGWU result, it would not receive the results of another ballot by a small number of employees in the AEEU union until March 28.

He added: 'We are extremely disappointed at the outcome. Our number-one priority is towards our customers buying the new Astra - this vote will not affect its production.'

In October, 120 casual jobs at the plant were cut. The announcement was made days after more than 3,000 members of staff were sent home when a strike by workers in Europe halted production.

And in November, unions said 340 jobs would be axed as part of 12,000 job losses across Europe.