Talks are being held in an attempt to try and avoid strike action by workers at Royal Doulton. Around 500 staff at the firm's Nile Street factory in Burslem are to be balloted over their annual pay rise.
Members of the pottery union CATU are also unhappy with details of the severance pay they will receive when the factory closes next year.
The Nile Street factory is Royal Doulton's last UK site and will shut down by mid-2005.
The company underwent a restructuring after falling sales and increased competition from overseas producers of pottery in recent years.
It has already shed 1,100 jobs and closed 42 shops and production at the firm's factory in Nile Street will be moving to Indonesia once it closes down.
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