WORKERS at Pendle's Rolls-Royce plant today backed a national strike threat over the firm's pensions crisis.

Union members are set to be balloted over the possible industrial action in around six weeks after talks broke down.

The news comes after the national negotiating committee registered a "failing to agree" decision.

Workers at the Barnoldswick site will be joining forces with colleagues throughout the country to fight company proposals to slash their pension scheme.

Senior union officials representing Amicus union members from plants in Barnoldswick, Derby, Ansty, Sunderland, Bristol, East Kilbride and Hillington have met to agree an initial response to the company's pensions proposals.

Rolls-Royce, which has a £1.1billion 'black hole' in its pension fund, is planning to end its final salary scheme, raise the penalties for early retirement and reduce early retirement provisions. One local worker who asked not to be named said: "The situation is getting desperate. Something needs to be done but nobody seems to be taking any action.

"Everybody who has worked here over a period of time is very concerned about the issue. If we need to strike to help sort out the mess then that's what we will have to do.

"It's not an ideal situation, nobody likes striking but talks have broken down and there doesn't seem to be any other way forward. We are in consultation with other workers at plants throughout the country." The outcome of the ballot could see a mass walkout or random strikes nationwide.

Under new measures brought in by the government, the company has to find £150 million towards the deficit.

The engineering union Amicus insists the company must raise its proposed financial contribution of £25million and reduce the proposed increase for active pension scheme members who are facing pension cuts of around 30 per cent off the value of their pensions.

A spokesman for Roll-Royce said: "It is quite a difficult position, but I am sure that Barnoldswick will support the other plants, as well as defending its own pensions."