Workers in Bradford's wool textile firms are demanding better rates of pay amid reports of a revival in the fortunes of the industry.

Negotiations got underway in Bradford yesterday between the Transport & General Workers' Union (T&G) and the Confederation of British Wool Textiles (CBWT) over the annual pay rise of 8,000 workers, including around 1,000 in Bradford.

The union said it was looking for "a much better deal" from employers and said the "time had now come to reverse years of decline".

But John Lambert, director general of the CBWT, said that the upturn in fortunes for some sectors of the industry was primarily in sales volumes rather than profits and stressed the pressure on prices was keen.

T&G national organiser for manufacturing Peter Booth said the union wanted to see a basic wage rate of not less than £6 an hour, an extra day's paid holiday and full pay whilst off sick.

However, the CBWT has offered an annual pay rise of just two per cent.

Mr Booth said: "Long periods of low wage awards are symptomatic of a deep seated problem, leaving wool textile workers undervalued in comparison to other groups of textile workers.

"Year on year workers in the wool industry have received lower increases than their counterparts in the cotton industry and the Scottish woollen industry."

Mr Booth acknowledged trading conditions were tough but said it was no worse than that experienced elsewhere within the industry.

"Indeed, there is good evidence to show that for those companies who have managed to trade successfully throughout this period, the wool industry has faired better than most others," he said. "During the last year we have seen a return to stronger order books for many companies with not only the welcome return to full time working but some examples of under capacity in key areas of the industry."

Mr Lambert said the CBWT, which represents around 25 companies in the Bradford district, had made the "best offer it could in the circumstances".

"There are clearly companies in the industry which are doing better than others at the moment," he said. "There has been something of a revival in some sectors of the industry but, unfortunately, that revival has been in levels of activity rather than profitability. Whether firms are doing well or badly, they are under extreme price pressures from customers."

The union will now discuss the offer with shop stewards after the Easter break.