Nissan workers in the company's purchasing department have voted by 75% for strike action for the first time in the Sunderland plant's history.

The vote was over what Amicus union described as the company's failure to enter into meaningful negotiations over the proposals to compulsorily relocate the purchasing department.

Three months ago Nissan Management informed sixty purchasing department workers that they intended to relocate their jobs to Cranfield, Bedfordshire, some 240 miles from Sunderland. The employees were just told of the move and that they must notify the company by 1st January 2004 that they are prepared to move by 1st June 2004.

Nissan has said the Company Council is the proper body for consultation, but the Purchasing Department Amicus members do not believe it has sufficient experience or leverage to negotiate a fair deal.