WORKERS at a specialist engineering factory in Leicester will walk out on strike today after being offered an “insulting” 2p an hour pay increase.

The measly offer to staff at Trelleborg, a Swedish-owned company that makes components for the train manufacturing industry, amounts to just £39 a year.

At the same time bosses propose to axe a bonus scheme that brought workers an average £600 a year — meaning a wage cut of £561 a year.

The 160 Unite members were due to walk out at 6am until 10.30pm tomorrow. Further strike action is planned.

Unite regional officer Lakhy Mahal said: “The two-man company team came with a pre-scripted offer with no authority to detract from it.

“This was no negotiation, but a take-it-or-leave-it insulting two-pence-an-hour pay increase on the previous offer for 2014.

“Understandably, Unite members on hearing this were absolutely livid at being treated with such contempt and as second-class employees. Further all-out strikes are planned in the coming weeks.”

He said the firm had just won a lucrative contract with Bombardier in Derby.

“Yet, despite a record year, members have grown increasingly frustrated by the company’s refusal to engage in meaningful talks and address their concerns over pay,” Mr Mahal said.