Sticking together

Members of Unite have stuck together on the first day (May 30) of 11 days of scheduled strikes, in a dispute over pay, at the Stafford factory of Bostik the adhesive and sealant manufacturer.

The workers are taking industrial action after being offered a pay increase of 2 per cent which is a real terms pay cut with the retail price index (RPI) currently at 3.5 per cent.

The industrial action was only called after six months of pay negotiations failed to produce an offer which was at all close to members’ expectations.

Unite represents 130 hourly paid workers at the factory, with 97 per cent of members supporting industrial action.

“Support on the first day of strike action was absolutely solid and management have come thoroughly unstuck in their attempts to avoid the impact of rising prices on our members’ wages,” said Unite regional officer Neil Salter.

“Bostik’s management need to understand that workers are not going to accept a pay offer which is in reality a pay cut for members. Members are struggling to make ends meet and need a fair deal to end this dispute.

“Our members are taking strike action as a last resort due to the company’s failure to make a vaguely acceptable pay offer. Management need to understand the strength of feeling amongst the workforce and get back round the table and make a vastly improved offer.”