‘Enough is enough’

Angry workers at windscreen makers Pilkington in Birmingham are striking in a dispute over pay inequality with co-workers at another site five miles away.

 

More than 130 workers at the King’s Norton Pilkington Automotive Ltd site are holding a series of strike actions and a continuous overtime ban from Monday June 29 until Friday July 10.

 

The protest is over pay inequality with the workers at the Pilkington site at Redditch receiving ÂŁ3,000-a-year more for work of equal value.

 

“The crux of the dispute is that five miles down the road in Redditch operators are earning £3,000-a-year more for doing exactly the same job,” said Brian Rickers, Unite regional officer.

 

The company has failed to address the issue in four long years and Unite members have said ‘enough is enough’ with a 78 per cent vote in favour of strike action.

 

“The series of strikes, coupled with the overtime ban, could hit production of windscreens, which would have an impact on deliveries to car makers Jaguar, Nissan and Vauxhall,” Brian added.

 

The King’s Norton operatives are paid roughly £17,000-a-year compared to Redditch operative’s £20,000-a-year.

 

King’s Norton and Redditch staff had both been made a two per cent offer, which would further cement pay disparity between the two sites.

 

“We urge management to get around the table in a positive fashion and negotiate a fair deal and salary harmonisation between the two sites,” said Brian.