Staff balloted on strike
UNION SAYS PAY OFFER ‘INSULTING’
WORKERS at a gas and chemical business are considering strike action after they were thanked for working through the pandemic in a way they perceived to be “insulting”.
Employees at Air Products are being asked to vote on whether they should take industrial action in January after “putting their own lives in danger to keep the country moving”.
The company, which has locations all over the UK, including Bardon, is imposing a pay increase of 2.8 per cent and 3 per cent for drivers and bay operators.
Staff have been offered a pin badge and £240 as a thank you gesture for working throughout the pandemic.
Union members are calling on the company to renegotiate the pay rise to more than 3 per cent, which they said would better reflect their contribution to the “huge profits” Air Products has made over the past two years.
The strike ballot closes on December 29.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “Our members are angry, and rightly so. They’ve put their own lives in danger to keep the country moving and the company afloat during this pandemic.
“These members also deliver more profit, and cost less, than anyone else in the company.
“Now they’ve been offered a thank you badge, a couple of hundred quid and a paltry pay rise. It’s insulting.
“We urge the company to get around the table, renegotiate and avoid this damaging industrial action.”
A company spokesman said: “We are very proud of all our people and the essential contributions they make every day.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have been ensuring their salaries are maintained, their health and wellness needs have been prioritised and they have job security, unlike many other companies. As part of pay negotiations with all our unionrepresented employees, we have been able to offer a competitive and fair salary increase and associated benefits.
“This has proved acceptable to our largest two unionised groups but, sadly, not to a smaller group of employees. Working in partnership with our union’s colleagues remains our priority.”