WORKERS warned Indian transnational Tata Steel yesterday that it could find itself embroiled in a Britain-wide dispute if it pushes on with plans to shunt its research staff to an arm’s-length organisation.

Tata’s 29 research and development workers in Middlesbrough backed strikes and action short of a strike by 69 per cent over plans to force them to work for the Materials Processing Institute, set up by Tata.

The workers, members of Unite, fear that they could lose thousands in pay and future pension payouts if the transfer goes ahead.

Unite national officer Paul Reuter said the dispute could spread across Tata’s British sites as the Middlesbrough members attract support from steelworkers showing solidarity.

He called for the firm to return to the negotiating table before the workers name the date for action.