WORKERS and management at a Great Harwood engineering depot have reached stalemate over pay claims.

Mains layers and road resurfacers at McAlpines, Heys Lane, walked out for one day last month saying they had not had a pay rise for two years.

More than 60 members of the workforce joined the GMB union after the walkout. But management had talks with the union on Friday, saying they would prefer the workers to join the company's bonus scheme. Workers want a pay rise first before they will consider the bonus.

Neil Holden, regional officer with the GMB, said: "It was quite amicable but they were insisting there would be no salary increase immediately. They want the bonus scheme, with a pay rise in the coming months depending on how successful the bonus scheme is.

A spokesman for McAlpine said: "We are confident that a satisfactory conclusion will be reached."