Glass workers in Yorkshire and Scotland call off strikes, as workers consider new pay offer
Workers at the Ardagh Glass sites in Yorkshire and Scotland have called off all industrial action due to have started at the weekend, after management made an improved pay offer.
Following intense negotiations on Friday (13 September), the company made an offer which will mean six per cent over two years, an improvement on the 5.5 per cent deal previously on the table which had been rejected by the workforce.
Unite said today (Monday 16 September) that all industrial action, including overtime bans, at Barnsley, Doncaster and Knottingley in Yorkshire and at Irvine in Ayrshire had been called off, while its members vote on the offer. The ballot will close on Sunday 6 October and the result will be known the next day (7 October).
The improved offer is 2.75 per cent from 1 February this year to 1 August when a further 0.25 per cent will be paid until 31 January 2014. All pay will be backdated. There is a three per cent offer for the pay year, starting on 1 February 2014.
Unite deputy regional secretary for Yorkshire Tas Sangha said:
“Unite and the GMB union had intense talks with the company on Friday which resulted in an improved pay offer.
“Unite will be recommending to its members that they accept this offer. In essence, more of the pay in year one will be backdated and an extra 0.5 per cent has been added for year two.
“In the meantime, all industrial action and overtime bans have been called off.
“The company has signalled that it would like a better relationship with the unions and, should our members accept this improved offer, we will be working very hard to improve relations with the management and chart a positive way forward for all concerned.”
Workers at both sites had voted overwhelming for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.
Ardagh Glass, which made £65 million in pre-tax profits last year, employs about 1,300 workers. The reports that Unite have received from the company show that it is projected to make £69 million pre-tax profits this year.
