5th Firm Says Work Royal Wedding
Monday 21st February
2011
CUMBRIA BASED
THOMAS ARMSTRONG IS THE FIFTH EMPLOYER TO REFUSE
DAY OFF FOR ROYAL WEDDING TO GMB
MEMBERS
GMB members at
Thomas Armstrongtold April 29 is a normal
working day with no bank holiday premium and to take the day off
through the normal holiday booking procedure
Thomas Armstrong (Holdings)
Ltd based in Maryport in Cumbria is refusing to give the day off to
employees for the Royal Wedding. It joins Interfloor in
Lancashire, CPM Group based in Somerset, Staffordshire, Yorkshire
and Scotland, and 2 Scottish Councils North Ayrshire and Highland
in refusing to give GMB members a day off with pay for the Royal
Wedding. See Notes to Editors for details.
Thomas Armstrong (Holdings)
Ltd is a company with a range of different departments
such as construction, transport, concrete production.
Kevin Young, GMB Northern Regional
Organiser said, "GMB members at Thomas
Armstrong have been that told that April 29 is a
normal working day which will carry no bank holiday premium and if
employees want to take the day off this will be done through the
normal holiday booking procedure.
With the nation and the whole
of Cumbriascheduled to enjoy the
Royal Wedding and take in the festivities, what a killjoy way to
operate. The least the company could do is stop penny pinching,
give workers a break and then get on with the business after the
Royal Wedding Day.
It just goes to show that in
the UKsome managers take the
attitude of no rest for the wicked and in the bargain let's work
till we drop. What a way to run a Company."
Ends
Contact: Kevin Young,
GMB Organiser on 07870 176747 or 01228 521657 or GMB Press Office
07974 251 823 or 07821 289880
Notes to Editors:
GMB CALL ON NORTH AYRSHIRE
& HIGHLAND COUNCIL TO OVERTURN DECISION ON NO TO
PAID HOLIDAYON
ROYAL WEDDING DAY
GMB members expected North
Ayrshire& Highland Councils to adhere to the guidance issued by
COSLA as is the case for their colleagues employed at South
Ayrshire and Scottish Borders Councils
GMB
Scotlandcommented on the decision of North Ayrshire
& Highland Councils to reject giving council staff a paid
days holiday for the Royal Wedding.
Alex McLuckie GMB Senior officers
for public services in Scotland said "GMB members employed
by North Ayrshire & Highland Council are very disappointed that
their employer is not recognizing the Royal Wedding with an
additional paid holiday or a bank holiday. GMB members expected
North Ayrshire & Highland Council to adhere to the
guidance issued by COSLA as is the case for their colleagues
employed at South Ayrshire and Scottish Borders Councils. All
Council employees in
England,
Walesand
Northern Irelandare getting
the day off with pay and those who work will be paid premium
time.
GMB members are surprised
that a Council Committee has recommended that the council staff are
not given this day off with pay. The day only comes round once in
each generation. GMB members will be making representations to
councillors and will want the full council meeting to overturn this
decision."
End
Contact:
Paul Arkinson, GMB Organiser on 07801 656 533
Notes to Editors - see GMB press
releases on two private sector employers saying no to day off for
Royal Wedding
7th
Feb
400
EAST LANCASHIREFLOORING
PRODUCTS WORKERS TOLD ROYAL WEDDING IS "A
NORMALWORKING
DAY"
This is "rather bah humbug
because the day has been declared a public holiday" says GMB
officer as Interfloor follows another company to tell GMB members
in
Somerset,
Yorkshire, Staffordshire
and
Scotlandsame
thing
Interfloor, based in
Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, employing 400
workers manufacturing flooring underlay products and accessories
has told GMB members that they must work on Royal Wedding day on
April 29 without 'additional working premiums'.
Interfloor follow pre cast stone
company CPM Group, with GMB members in Somerset, Yorkshire,
Staffordshire and Scotland who told GMB last month that the Royal
Wedding would be a normal working day as well. (See release in
notes to Editors below)
An Interfloor notice to employees
says: "We will be treating this day as a normal working day. Anyone
who wishes to be absent on the day should request to take the day
from their holiday entitlement."
Alana Armstrong GMB Regional
Officer said: "I think this is rather bah humbug because
the day has been declared a public holiday.
GMB would urge the company
to offer double pay or a day in lieu as a gesture of goodwill, even
if the contracts don't require it."
End
Contact: Alana Armstrong 07740 80
40 44 or 01772 555879 or GMB Press Office07974
251 823 or 07821 289880
Notes to Editors
GMB press release of 20th January
2011 on pre cast company refusing time off for Royal
Wedding
CPM GROUP LIMITED Precast
firm with workers in Somerset, Yorkshire, Staffordshire and
Scotland plan to work through Royal Wedding Day
CPM Group Managing Director, Mike
Stacey has announced to the workforce on that the Directors of CPM
Group have discussed this at great length and in view of the
current economic situation, coupled with the number of Statutory
Bank Holidays in April and May 2011, and the disruptive effect this
will cause to business, the decision has been taken that the
Company, will not be closed on 29 April 2011.
There will still be opportunity
for people to take a day from their holidays to enjoy the day if
they so wish, with their Line Managers approval, ensuring that the
business is unaffected.
CPM is a precast concrete business
and a market-leading manufacturer of concrete products with
extensive production facilities in Somerset, Staffordshire,
Yorkshire and Scotland. "Off-site" provides modern methods of
construction for many applications including modular retaining
walls, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, stormwater
attenuation and control, water treatment and manhole innovation See
Notes Editors for locations and contact details.
Rachelle Wilkins, GMB Organiser,
Midlands and East Coast Region, said;"GMB members consider
that this pathetic use of the current economic situation is nothing
more than a sham excuse! The Company are currently working
overtime and have recently employed agency staff due to an increase
in volume of work.
The real reason the
Company are trying to enforce this decision is because they have
been advised by an outside HR Advisory Service after they had
looked over the terms and conditions of employment that the Company
could refuse to apply this Special Bank Holiday".
This is a total and utter
abuse of the Working Time Directive and the Law surrounding Bank
Holidays.
I have spoken with Nick
Gainsford ( Director) and urged the Company to re-think their
somewhat uncharitable decision and afford GMB members the Special
Bank Holidayto
celebrate the Day. I told him that GMB members hope the decision
was not cast in stone."
End
Contact Rachelle Wilkins Organiser
07966 327 970 or landline 01482 218018
Notes to Editors
Head Office Sales and
Works
CPM Group Ltd, Head
Office Mells Road, Mells, Nr Frome
Somerset, BA11 3PD
Tel: 01179 812791 Fax: 01179 814511
ScotlandSales and
Works
CPM Group Ltd, 101 Main
Street, Newmains,
Wishaw,
Lanarkshire, ML2
9BG
Tel: 01698 386922 Fax: 01698 387167
Leek Sales and Works
CPM Group Ltd, Barnfields,
Leek,
Staffordshire, ST13
5QG
Tel: 01538 380500 Fax: 01538 380510
Pollington Works
CPM Group Ltd, Pollington,
Goole,
East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14
0DU
Tel: 01405 860591 Fax: 01405 863606
Technical Offices
CPM Group Ltd, CPM House,
Heath Mill Road,
Wombourne,
Wolverhampton, WV5
8AP
Tel: 01902 356220 Fax: 01902 356221