Factory workers have resumed strike action over “disappointing” plans to remove paid lunch breaks agreed 20 years ago.

Staff at American-based Phinia downed tools at the Gillingham factory in Courteney Road yesterday (March 26).

It comes after the company announced it was planning to remove the paid lunch break of half-an-hour for its staff members last year.

Members have since been issued an ultimatum by bosses to end their current employment contracts with an offer of of new jobs under new terms – a practice known as “fire and rehire”.

However, it is controversial because it forces employees into either accepting less favourable conditions or risk losing their jobs.

The long-running dispute has been ongoing for a number of weeks, with yesterday’s industrial action seeing 60 workers take part in the strike.

Workers first formally balloted for a walkout in December after notice was issued to withdraw the paid break.

It comes after an agreement was negotiated between management and unions in 2004.

Unite regional officer, Becca-Johns Lawrence, says negotiations have reached a stalemate.

She told KMTV: “[There is] vast unhappiness as you can see from the turnout on the strike action.

“We’ve held firm with numbers all the way through ever since the beginning.

“The strength of feeling here is evident in the number of people out on the picket line that they are not happy to have a paid lunch break removed - which was negotiated more than 20 years ago as part of a pay deal.

“We have been more than fair and offered to pause strike action if the company would offer to pause the fire and rehire process to enable us to negotiate, but they have failed to do so.

“And yes, it’s disappointing, disappointing for the members, but ultimately they stand firm in their decision as they have done since the very start.”

Phinia, which took over the brand Delphi and manufactures fuel and electrical systems for the automotive technology industry, has reportedly suffered a massive drop in orders worldwide.

It has left management wanting to implement changes to shift patterns for its hourly-paid workforce as part of an overall money-saving exercise.

However, according to Unite - the union representing workers - the company recently reported a net revenue of approximately $800 million.

Phinia says its been following appropriate protocols for engaging with the union, as well as keeping staff informed.

It adds it has taken measures to minimise disruption caused by strike action and insists there won’t be any disruption to customers.

Cllr Naushabah Khan is backing the workers in their dispute.

The Labour councillor said: “It’s disgraceful actually that the management there feel this is an appropriate thing to do.

“The workers at Phinea have never been on strike before.

“This is the first time they’ve ever done so and many of them have been working at that location for 25 years to 30 years, so a very long time.

“It’s a very unusual set of circumstances.”

About 650 people, engineers and shop floor employees work at the site, with Phinhia employing about 300 people.