Unfair parking levy prompts union members to consider strike
7 February 2012
Hundreds of workers from the multi-national tobacco giant
Imperial Tobacco’s Nottingham site, via a joint union consultative
ballot, have indicated they want to move to an external ballot for
industrial action over the company’s decision to make them pay part
of the ‘workplace parking levy’.
In April 2012, Nottingham city council will begin charging up to
£288 annually per car via the workplace parking levy – a levy on
‘employers’ that provide workplace parking. The union believes that
Imperial Tobacco can easily afford to pay this levy, but is instead
burdening its workforce with an extra charge - which they can
ill-afford.
In the recent consultative ballot, Unite and GMB members voted
75.6 per cent in favour of moving to a strike action ballot. The
unions are now preparing to conduct a full industrial action ballot
at Imperial Tobacco unless it removes this unacceptable levy from
its workers. Dates of the ballot will be released in due
course.
Unite regional officer, Luke Primarolo, said: “The council has
imposed this levy on employers and it is their responsibility – not
the workers. However, we now see this mega-rich multinational
tobacco company refusing to pay this parking levy and instead
looking at ways to pass some of it on to its workers – this is
totally unacceptable to our members.
“We have received a resounding ‘yes’ vote in our consultative
ballot and preparations are now underway for a full industrial
action ballot of the membership. We implore Imperial Tobacco to
think again and reconsider placing this unfair levy on its
workers.”
ENDS
For further information contact Luke Primarolo on 07717 787359
or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 3371 2061 or
07980 224761
