Drivers hail pay victory

Drivers working for Castle Cement have voted to accept an improved two-year pay deal, Unite said today (February 22).

Unite said that its members at eight depots across the UK had voted overwhelmingly to accept the new pay package and, as a result, the strike action scheduled for 26-27 February won’t now go-ahead.

About 240 workers have accepted the overall package which will mean an increase of 3.7 per cent from 1 January this year; and for 2019, an increase which could range from 3.4 to 4.4 per cent.

“After intense negotiations with the management, we were able to put a new and improved offer to our members which they overwhelmingly voted to accept,” said Unite national officer for road transport Adrian Jones.

“I would like to pay tribute to the solidarity our members have shown during this dispute, without which we would not have achieved this pay victory.

“The strike action due next week is now suspended and we wish to work constructively with the company going forward.”

The depots are in Avonmouth, Bellshill (North Lanarkshire), Birmingham, Clitheroe (Lancashire), Kings Cross (London), Middlesbrough, Mold (north Wales) and Stamford (Lincolnshire).

Castle Cement delivers bulk and ready-packed cement to customers across the UK. The company is part of the Hanson HeidelbergCement Group.