TALKS are being held today in a bid to avert strike action at Tata Steel after it was announced that thousands of workers would see their retirement age rise.

Bosses desperately want to halt the first national steel strike in 35 years, which would involve around 17,000 factory workers across the country.

Tata company blamed its decision to change the final-salary pension scheme and raise the retirement age to 65 on a £2 billion deficit.

The scheme supports 135,000 people but would be closed to new workers, who would instead be offered a less generous contribution-based pension.

Members of unions GMB, Unite, Ucatt and Community are due to walk out for 24 hours on June 22 in protest, while an overtime ban and work to rule are due to start tomorrow.

Eighty-eight per cent voted in favour of striking and the number reached an astronomical 96 per cent in Port Talbot, South Wales.

“We have been in contact with all the parties involved and they are attending Acas talks in London on Monday,” said Acas chief conciliator David Prince.