STAFF at the Highways Agency in West Yorkshire will be balloted on industrial action after rejecting a below-inflation pay offer.

Traffic officers, engineers and other specialist staff who help keep traffic flowing on Britain's motorways - including the busy M62 - voted by 615 to 105 to throw out the 3.6% offer.

A spokesman for their union, Prospect, said employees were angry that their efforts to help the agency achieve all its key performance targets in 2006 was being rewarded with a pay cut in real terms.

Members, including scores based at Leeds, were receiving ballot papers today with the result due on February 2.

If members vote in favour of industrial action, there will be a campaign of strikes starting with a one-day walk-out.

The union spokesman said: "The diligence of staff in keeping the traffic flowing has earned them the nickname jambusters.

"But, after previous modest pay settlements, treasury constraints have resulted in management imposing an offer that not only fails to provide 'jam tomorrow' but will see 80% of members taking a pay cut."

The union argues that the offer is below the 3.9% retail price index.

Prospect represents over a third of all Highways Agency employees, including 70% of the 1,100 staff based in seven regional control centres and 370 engineers and specialist technicians.