The move follows a recent ballot of GPMU members, on whether to take strike or a lesser form of action, after they rejected the latest pay offer of an increase of 2.85%.

The offer forms part of the national agreement with the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI).

A meeting between the two parties was scheduled to take place in London tomorrow (4 August).

GPMU president Ray Williams said he was hopeful that the CPI would bring something better to the table, and improve its offer.

CPI director of external affairs Kathy Bradley declined to comment as to whether an improved offer would be discussed.

But she said the meeting had been booked for some time, "to discuss the outcome of the ballot".

Williams said around three quarters of the UK's paper mills would be affected if industrial is taken, which would impact on UK production.

There are some 80 paper and board mills in the UK with 15,800 employees. They produce 6.2m tonnes of paper and board annually, of which 1.3m tonnes is exported. UK paper and board consumption is 12.5m tonnes per year.

Story by Andy Scott