Tarmac Building Products Ltd is set to be hit by a series of strikes when members of Britain’s largest union walk out.

Unite will start a programme of industrial action next week in a dispute over cuts to pay and two-tier working.

The Stanford Le Hope based company are planning to introduce subordinate terms and conditions for new starters.

New starters will receive less pay than colleagues, creating a two-tier workforce.

Unite and Tarmac, which produce concrete breeze blocks, attended talks organised by the conciliation service Acas before Christmas.

Talks stretched into the New Year, but no progress was made.

Unite which represents 100 per cent of the workforce, had already held a ballot for strike action, which saw a huge yes vote.

As the talks were making no progress Unite served notice for strike action.

There will be a series of 24 hour strikes with the first scheduled for January 30. The remainder will take place on February 6, 8, 20, 22 and then on March 20 and 22.

Unite Regional Officer Guy Langston said: “Unite’s members have made it totally clear they will simply not accept their terms and conditions being eroded.

“Tarmac’s plan to cut pay for new starters is the thin edge of the wedge. Our members believe that if this is unchallenged it will lead to further attacks on terms and conditions.

“Our members are only taking strike action as a last resort as a result of the company’s refusal to negotiate. Strike action will create serious disruption to Tarmac’s business, but managers has brought this on themselves.”

After Unite served the notice for strike action Tarmac suggested further talks which will take place on Wednesday.

Unless substantial progress is made the strikes will continue as planned.