‘Tribute to solidarity’

The pay dispute at Case New Holland Tractor Ltd in Basildon, Essex has been settled, after the workforce accepted an improved pay offer.

 
The 460-strong hourly paid production workforce, members of Unite, were due to start a 36-hour strike at 11.45 today (October 22), but this has now been suspended.

 
The offer that has now been accepted is two per cent for 2015 and two per cent for 2016. There is also an improvement in pay when tractor production is not taking place which means workers receiving 60 per cent of their pay for 20 days a year, instead of the current five. Any days on top of that would attract 55 per cent pay, up from 50 per cent.

 
“The dispute was settled after the union and the company reached agreement on an improved deal which meant that the offer for 2016 increased from 1.5 per cent to two per cent,” said Unite regional officer Jo Jaques.

 
“Unite is pleased that this dispute has been settled,” Jaques added. “It is a tribute to the solidarity that our members have shown during three days of previous strike action.

 
“We want to continue to have a constructive relationship with the management going forward.”
The Cranes Farm Road company is owned by the Italian car giant, Fiat.