The walkouts are in support of sacked contract workers

Almost 2,000 have downed tools in the dispute at plants across Tyneside.

Unions at the Swan Hunter shipyard say about 800 workers are staging a lightning strike, in a show of support for 98 contract workers who were sacked ten days ago.

Amicus shop steward Ken Rogan said the 800 were later joined by more than 1,000 offshore construction workers from the nearby Amec yard.

The sacked men, who work for C and D Industrial Services, held an unofficial strike earlier this month after claiming they were receiving �1.95 an hour less than men employed directly by the Swans yard.

The 98 time-served craftsmen were sacked on 5 September.

'Token' strike

Mr Rogan, from Amicus, said Monday's walkouts were "a real show of support".

He said he hoped the move would help reopen negotiations with managers at the shipyard.

Mr Rogan said: "We would like to thank the Swan Hunter staff for coming out in support.

"We had reached a situation where the management were not talking to us.

"Hopefully this will get some discussions going on the table between senior management and C and D.

"I wouldn't expect a full-out strike. I believe it is a token strike just for today.

"This obviously highlights the situation that they understand the situation we are in. Being tradesmen we should all get paid the same rate and we have full backing from all the tradesmen in this yard."

Swan Hunter declined to comment on the situation.