No to poverty pay

Unite members at EM News Distribution are set to commence strike action for improved pay tomorrow (June 3) after an overwhelming ballot in favour of industrial action.

Workers will stage a five-hour stoppage across shifts at the highly profitable NI news and magazine distributor. The action is likely to result in significant disruption to newspaper and magazine distribution across Northern Ireland.

Speaking ahead of his entry to negotiations in the Labour Relations Agency later on today, Unite regional officer Sean Smyth called on management to adopt a more conciliatory approach.

“The EM News Distribution employees we represent are paid little more than the minimum wage for skilled activities,” Smyth noted. “Management failure to address the issue of poverty pay has resulted in a very strong endorsement of strike action at the ballot.”

Smyth condemned the way in which management, instead of engaging in serious negotiations, have responded with a threat to lock out workers if they take strike action.

“This,” Smyth argued, “has only strengthened the workers’ resolve to secure fair pay and increased the likelihood of action escalating after tomorrow.”

Smyth went on to say that members are hoping to avoid strike action as it is likely to have a highly disruptive impact on the distribution of newspapers and magazines across Northern Ireland.

“We remain confident that this strike action can be avoided if this highly profitable company addresses the issue of poverty-pay within its workforce.”

Strike action was endorsed by 93 per cent of workers in ballot with 91 per cent turnout – well above the Conservative government’s planned ballot thresholds in their latest bid to curtail workers’ rights.