Workers at pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have voted by almost 3-1 to go on strike in a row over pensions.

The GMB union said dates for industrial action will be set later this week unless the company reopened negotiations over planned changes to its pension scheme.

The union had recommended a 'yes' vote for industrial action after accusing the company of planning 'draconian' proposals to end its final salary pension scheme for 2,500 staff based mainly at its Hurdsfield site in Macclesfield.

GMB national officer Allan Black said: "This clear mandate for a strike in the midst of the current economic circumstances ought to be a wake up call to AstraZeneca to resume negotiations.

"The company need to return to the negotiating table as a matter of urgency. They have to understand that unless they take this opportunity then strike action will be held.

"There will be a meeting of shop stewards later this week to fix dates for industrial action unless the company come back to the negotiating table with meaningful terms."

An AstraZeneca statement read: "The GMB union has today completed its ballot of members within AstraZeneca’s UK business for strike action relating to the changes that have been made to the company’s UK pension benefits.

"We understand that 165 employees have voted in favour of action, which represents about a third of the GMB members and less than 2 per cent of the UK employee population.

"We are currently reviewing the information provided by GMB union resulting from the ballot. 

"AstraZeneca remains committed to providing a very competitive level of pension benefit and the changes made ensure all employees continue to have access to pension arrangements that compare favourably to other organisations in the UK.  It is our firm belief that strike action would not be in anyone’s best interests."

AstraZeneca's 100-acre base in Hurdsfield is the second largest in the company and houses research and manufacturing functions.

The Anglo-Swedish company posted a 12 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the second quarter of 2010, from £1.67bn to £1.87bn. Revenues climbed from £5.016bn to £5.235bn.