Unilever Strike Dates
Tuesday 10th January 2012
GMB MEMBERS AT UNILEVER NORWICH AND
WARRINGTON TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION STARTING WEDNESDAY 18TH
JANUARY 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 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 06.00 Wednesday to 05.59 on Thursday
19th January.
The action stems from a decision by a joint
union delegate conference of representatives from all 11 Unilever
sites in Liverpool on Jan 7th to organize further days
of strike action at all 11 sites starting on January
17th to secure a resumption of meaningful negotiations.
Unilever have already rejected an approach for ACAS for talks. GMB
shop stewards from Unilever at Warrington in Cheshire and Norwich
in Norfolk attended that meeting.
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 from 1st January 2012. 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
1st January 2012.
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 each of the 11
locations between 17th and 29th January will be
published on union websites.
Allan Black GMB National Officer said,
“Unilever should heed their workforce and get back into
talks – possibly under the auspices of ACAS. Unilever’s rejection
of an approach from ACAS for talks has angered the workforce.
Unilever need to get the message that profitable companies will not
be allowed to walk away from their savings commitments to their
loyal workforce.
This further strike action at Unilever
demonstrates that pensions are not just a matter of concern for
public sector workers. The concerns are shared by workers in
private sector employers like Unilever too. The action also
shows that ordinary workers will not stand idly by to watch
profitable employers like Unilever jumping on the pension’s robbery
bandwagon.
The main political parties, employers,
workers and their unions should share the aim that adequate savings
are put aside, while employees are in work, to provide a decent
income for them when they retire. Adequate savings rates were once
a by word for responsible capitalism. Workers having to strike to
protect adequate savings rates shows how anarchic contemporary
capitalism has become. Employers and politician may favour this
anarchy but workers and their families will never accept
it.”
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.