Irlam's drivers in strike threat
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• More than 120 drivers are threatening to strike at Cheshire-based James Ham & Son in a row over union recognition.
The United Road Transport Union says it is balloting members on industrial action after management ignored two letters offering to resolve the issue amicably.
But solicitor James Backhouse, who is representing the company in the dispute, says URTU members are not in the majority. "As far as we are aware drivers have been contacting us steadily over the past few days to inform us they are not supporting the union over strike action," he says.
Backhouse adds that the shop steward at Ham's depot in Normanton. West Yorkshire, where URTU's membership is highest, was voted out last Saturday.
The company says it employs about 350 drivers overall and the 120 URTU members equate to 36%.
URTU spokesman Doug Curtis says a strike is at least three weeks away.
"I don't think Ham pays its drivers badly." he says, "but there has been a feeling for many years that it is anti-union."