Still time to talk plea

About 150 workers at a chemical factory in East Lancashire will take industrial action in a dispute over imposed changes to their terms and conditions.

The Unite members including manual workers, chemical process workers, maintenance engineers and office workers, at Johnson Matthey in Clitheroe, one of the biggest employers in the area, voted for industrial action, which consists of a work-to-rule and a complete overtime ban.

Johnson Matthey, a leading speciality chemicals company, has imposed changes the workers annual pay award and to terms and conditions without consultation from January 1 2017. Industrial action will begin at 00:01 on Monday October 10.

“Nobody here wants to take industrial action, but it means that our members will be expected to work longer with no extra pay,” said Pat Coyne, Unite regional officer.

The company is proposing to increase the working week from 36 hours to 37.5 hours without remuneration and are seeking ‘handover’ time at the end of every shift to be done in workers’ own time, again without remuneration.

“Unite will not accept changes to workers’ terms and conditions being imposed without proper consultation and negotiation,” said Pat.

Unite is calling for Johnson Matthey management to engage in urgent and constructive talks to resolve the dispute.

“Our members will start a work-to-rule on Monday October 10. However, there is still time for Johnson Matthey to think again and get back round the table with us so we can find a solution to resolve this dispute,” added Pat.