TRADE union members of Capita Insurance and Banking Services based in Reading Bridge House striked on Thursday over a pay dispute.

More than 100 life and pension workers for the firm went to the picket line following the announcement of a real time pay cut for 75 per cent of staff in March.

The Reading strikers were joined by around 1,000 Capita employees in eight different locations across the country who also object to the proposals.

The day of action comes against a backdrop of voluntary redundancies in which roughly 30 employees are reported to have left the Bridge House office over the last year.

Ian Methven, Regional Officer for Unite Union, who are organising the strike, said: “The company has been very very successful and we believe they can afford to pay a proper rate of pay.

“If negotiations aren't opened further industrial action is possible, but we would of course have to consult out members.”

When unionised members of the workforce held a ballot following the pay announcement, 88 per cent rejected the proposals.

Capita agreed to hold a meeting with union members which reportedly collapsed after a matter of minutes.

Since June 3 members have been on a self-enforced over time ban and an on-call and standby ban since may 27.

Dominic Hook, national officer for finance for Unite, who helped to organise the strike, said: “Our members are fed up to the back teeth by enduring poverty pay, while Capita accrues large profits on the back of their hard work."