WORKERS at Coleford' s Ribena factory are deciding whether to go on strike.

About 200 engineers, office and warehouse workers from trade union Unite at GlaxoSmithKline's Coleford plant are being balloted on whether to strike over a pay freeze.

Staff were given a 1.2 per cent increase in 2009. In 2010 their pay was frozen.

GSK made £1.29 billion profits in the third quarter of 2010.

Negotiations between Unite and GSK began in June but broke down.

Unite's Christine Starling said: "It is outrageous that GSK, a world-renowned, highly profitable, company is offering its staff no pay increase at all in 2010.

"With inflation running at almost five per cent a company worth billions is, in effect, giving its loyal staff a pay cut. "

"Our members have no choice than to hold an industrial action ballot to get management back around the table to reach a fair pay deal."

The company said it hopes to settle the issue.

"At Coleford, we continue to make significant investments in our people," said a GSK spokesperson.

"We also have good relations with the local representatives of Unite and during this negotiation we have continued to maintain positive dialogue.

"We are therefore confident that we can resolve negotiations with Unite in January."

The strike ballot closes on January 14.