PIZZA factory workers are to be balloted for strike action over a pay offer their union official branded ‘insulting’.

Six hundred members of the blue collar union GMB employed at the food manufacturer Bakkavor's Bakkavor Pizza plant in Forward Drive in Wealdstone will asked whether they support a walkout, and the result will be announced on January 29.

GMB said its members rejected  in November 2013 consultative ballot the firm’s offer of a 2.5 per cent increase on the basic rate and shift premiums, and £60 Christmas bonus.

The union notified Bakkavor of the result and the process for a ballot for industrial action would begin, and the two sides have been for talks at conciliation service ACAS.

During negotiations on January 8 Bakkavor made a further proposal that was not well received by union officials.

Tony Warr, senior organiser for GMB, said: “Offering a £10 voucher to be spent in the staff shop will be considered as an insult by GMB members.

“GMB members have tolerated below-inflation increases in pay for the last four years while ensuring that the business has thrived and continues to make profit.

“The industrial action ballot will commence very shortly and GMB fully expects its members to support the call for action.

“This is not a militant workforce, far from it, but they are not prepared to accept such a derisory improvement.

“The terms of reference for the ACAS meeting have clearly been overlooked.

“GMB had agreed to sit down with Bakkavor management and put on hold the strike action ballot on the basis that any improvement would be significant.”

A Bakkavor spokeswoman said: “We are naturally disappointed that our recent increased pay offers have been declined.

“In view of current difficult trading conditions and compared to wider food industry settlements, we believe that they represented a full and fair package and were the best which we were able to make.

“We continue to encourage further dialogue among all parties involved to ensure an agreement can be reached and any industrial action avoided.”

Bakkavor’s Katsouris Fresh Foods four factories in Park Royal are not involved in the Harrow dispute.