WORKERS at a trailer factory are hopeful a year-long struggle over pay could almost be over.

About 40 full time staff at Ifor Williams Trailers (IWT) factory on Deeside Industrial Park took part in the first day of a two-day walk out yesterday with union bosses saying more strike action is planned.

But with a meeting between the firm and the UNITE union planned for Monday, further action could be called off.

Staff are unhappy over a pay deal offered by the company for 2010 and took part in three one-day walk outs over the last six weeks.

UNITE spokesman Tony Brady said: “The company has now said they want a meeting on Monday. They wanted us to call off today’s action, but we will call off next week’s action if we get an agreement. This is a positive step and we hope we can get an agreement. The workers are keen to get back to work and do their jobs.”

The dispute centres on the firm’s offer of a 1.5 per cent pay rise, while negotiations over the 2011 pay award, which currently stands at no increase, have yet to begin. IWT has its main site in Corwen and employs more than 60 people at Deeside.

Mr Brady said staff had not been given a pay rise since 2007 and were losing income as lucrative shift work is cut back.

He added the firm had praised the professionalism of the staff while at work in between the action.

A spokesman for IWT Deeside said: “A meeting regarding pay talks has been agreed for next Monday, June 6, with the company, UNITE and ACAS.”

He also said the firm would pay a taxable lump sum of £318 and, despite continuing uncertainty in the economic climate, would protect the shift pay until February 28, 2012.