More Unilever Pension Strikes
Tuesday 17th January 2012
STRIKE ACTION BY GMB
MEMBERS AT UNILEVER NORWICH AND UNILEVER WARRINGTON STARTS TOMORROW
(18TH JAN) TO SECURE RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS ON
PENSIONS
Unilever should heed
their workforce and get back into talks – possibly under the
auspices of ACAS as Unilever’s rejection of an approach from ACAS
for talks angered the workforce says GMB
GMB members on shift work at
Unilever Warrington will take part in stoppages over the period
from tomorrow, 06.00 Wednesday 18th Jan to 05.59 on
Friday 20th Jan. GMB members on shift work at Unilever
Norwich will take stoppages over the period from tomorrow 06.00
Wednesday to 05.59 on Thursday 19th January.
Pickets will be placed as follows:
From 6am to
6am
Wednesday 18th –
Thursday 19th January
At Carrow
Works,
Carrow,
Norwich NR1
2DD
and from 6am to
6am
Wednesday 18th –
Friday 20th January
at 2 Liverpool
Road,
Warrington,
Cheshire WA5
1AA
The action stems from a
decision by a joint union delegate conference of representatives
from all 12 Unilever sites in Liverpool on Jan 7th to
organize further days of strike action at all 12 sites starting on
January 17th to secure a resumption of meaningful
negotiations. Unilever have already rejected an approach for ACAS
for talks.
GMB members employed by
Unilever at Warrington in Cheshire and Norwich in Norfolk took part
in a one day national strike at the eleven sites on Friday
9th December over the company plans to change existing
pension arrangements for existing employees this year. That was the
first day of industrial action at all sites. This followed a
majority of three to one for strike action over the company plans
to change existing pension arrangements for existing employees from
this year.
This change affects 5,000
Unilever staff at the two locations above and at Purfleet, Port
Sunlight, Gloucester, Manchester, Leeds, Burton on Trent, Crumlin
in Wales, Bedfordshire and Leatherhead in Surrey. Unilever closed
the scheme to new entrants in 2008. The dates for action at
12 locations between 17th and 29th January are shown in
the editors notes below.
Allan Black GMB National
Officer said, “Unilever can afford to sustain the current
pension scheme unchanged due to the profitability of the
company.
The Trade Unions are
able to put forward constructive alternative proposals on pensions,
but these have never been considered by Unilever.
That is why GMB
members and the members of the unions are seeking talks with the
company possible under the auspices ACAS. The strike action is to
secure these talks.”
End
Contact
: Allan Black, GMB National Officer 07725 100 316,
Ivan Mercer, GMB Organiser in Norwich on 01603 626 492 or 07713 077
194 or George Patterson Warrington GMB Organiser on in the North
West on 07974 018405. GMB Press Office
07921 289880 or 07974 251823
Notes to Editor: Details of the picket lines
at all 12 Unilever sites:
Purfleet Factory
London Road,
Purfleet,
Essex, RM19 1SD
Times:
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Wednesday, 18
January 2012 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Thursday, 19 January,
2012
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Thursday, 19
January, 2012 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Friday, 20 January,
2012
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Friday, 20
January, 2012 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday, 21 January,
2012
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Monday, 23
January, 2012 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Tuesday, 24 January,
2012
Trafford Park Factory
Trafford Park Road,
Trafford Park,
Manchester, M17 1NH
Time:
Commencing at 21:50 hours on Thursday, 19
January, 2012
Concluding at 20:49 hours on Friday, 20
January, 2012
Commencing at 06:50 hours on Sunday, 22
January, 2012
Concluding at 18:49 hours on Sunday, 22
January, 2012
Port Sunlight Factory
Port Sunlight,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH62 4ZD
Time:
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Friday, 20
January, 2012
Concluding at 17:59 hours on Saturday 21
January, 2012
Gloucester Factory
Corinium Avenue,
Barnwood,
Gloucester, GL4 3BW
Time:
Commencing at 06:30 hours on Wednesday, 25
January, 2012
Concluding at 06:29 hours on Thursday, 26
January, 2012
Crumlin Factory
Croespenmaen Industrial Estate,
Crumlin,
Gwent, NP11 3AG
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Thursday, 26
January, 2012
Concluding at 24:00 hours on Saturday, 28
January, 2012
Warrington Factory
2 Liverpool Road,
Warrington,
Cheshire, WA5 1AA
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Wednesday 18
January, 2012
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Friday 20
January, 2012
Burton Factory
Wellington Road,
Burton-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, DE14 2AB
Time:
Commencing at 05:00 hours on Wednesday 25
January, 2012
Concluding at 04:59 hours on Thursday 26
January, 2012
Norwich Factory
Coleman’s of Norwich,
Carrow,
Norwich, NR1 2DD
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours Wednesday, 18
January, 2012
Concluding at 05:59 hours Thursday, 19 January
2012
Leeds Factory
Coal Road,
Seacroft,
Leeds, LS14 2AR
Time:
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Friday, 20
January, 2012
Concluding at 17:59 hours Saturday, 21
January, 2012
Port Sunlight Research & Development
site
Quarry Road East
Bebington,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH63 3JW
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on
Wednesday, 18 January, 2012
Unilever Europe IT
Unity House,
St David's Park,
Ewloe, Deeside
Time:
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Wednesday, 18
January, 2012
Concluding at 06:59 hours on Thursday, 19
January, 2012
Colworth Research &Development site
Colworth Science Park,
Sharnbrook,
Bedford, MK44 1LQ
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on
Wednesday, 18 January, 2012