Weekend production at Ryton ended in April

About 60% of the workforce who voted in a ballot opposed an extra shift, which would have been on a Friday, and the shortening of other weekday shifts.

The company is restructuring after ending its weekend production in April with the loss of 800 jobs.

Now talks are to be held between unions and management following the result of the ballot.

The national officer for Amicus, Roger Maddison, initially recommended that workers should accept the changes but now says he is not surprised by the result.

He added: "A lot of people like us to make recommendations so we always feel a little bit duty-bound to make a recommendation.

"We weren't pushing it too much. We were just saying to people 'we think it's a better shift pattern'. We think better shifts are healthier for the members."