CRANE OPERATORS involved in a pay dispute protested outside Sunderland’s Stadium of Light last night while bosses tried to undermine strike action by buying food for workers prepared to cross the picket line.

The demonstration at the Liebherr Sunderland Works condemned an “inadequate” pay offer as Sunderland played the Stoke City under-21s in a Football League Trophy match.

The protest will be repeated at Saturday’s game against Fleetwood.

Unite said managers greeted strike-breakers with handshakes and the offer of free burgers and pizzas.

The union’s regional officer Mark Sanderson said: “This is both pathetic and patronising and no way to address employment relations in the modern age.

“Our members are very determined to continue the industrial action, with 11 more days of strike action planned into October. The next strike day covers September 6-7.”

The company’s most recent pay offer is 3.2 per cent with an extra day’s holiday during Christmas — or 3.3 per cent as an alternative.

“The Sunderland crane operation is part of the global Liebherr Group, which recently boasted the highest turnover in the group’s history — a total of almost €10 billion (£9bn), so the company can well afford to make a fair offer to our members,” Mr Sanderson added.