A MANAGING director inviting union bosses to recruit members on his shopfloor may sound an unlikely scenario.

But Mike Strahan believes the move to bring the GMB union in will help his fast-expanding firm.

Now most of the shopfloor workers at his Plan-It welding firm, which employs 50 people, in Accrington have signed up with the GMB.

New legislation is about to be brought in which will mean firms have to recognise trade unions.

Unions are encouraging firms to set up relationships with them before the Fairness at Work legislation comes into force.

"There were pros and cons to it all but when we looked into it the pros far outweighed the cons," explained Mike, who used to be a union representative himself at British Aerospace.

Plan-It Welding manufactures tubular steel products for the office furniture industry and supplies firms including Altham based Senator.

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