Unions urge Unilever trustees to see sense on pension snatch - or
more strikes will follow
12 January 2012
Unions representing thousands of employees within Unilever UK
have today (Thursday) written to the pension fund trustees to urge
them not to close the final salary pension scheme.
The unions – Unite, the GMB and Usdaw – warn the trustees, who
are soon to make a decision on Unilever's plans to shut the scheme,
that the workers are determined to make the company uphold its
commitment to retain it, including taking industrial action across
the entire UK operation. Such action would hit the production
of major brands including Pot Noodle, Flora, Marmite, Persil and
Dove.
Workers took the first ever strike at the global’s UK operations
in December last year, forced when Unilever reneged on its promise
to preserve the financially healthy final salary
scheme.
Instead, Unilever is pressing on with plans to replace the
scheme with an inferior career average scheme which could slash
retirement savings by a massive 40 per cent, and is refusing to
talk with the unions about a fairer alternative.
In a letter to the chair of the Unilever UK Pension Fund
Trustees, Liz Airey, the unions write:
“We are aware that the Trustees will shortly make a decision in
respect of the company’s proposals to close the final salary
pension scheme and have already had an exchange of correspondence
with you on this issue.
“You will be aware that our members have mandated us to give
notice of further strikes and also to escalate our campaign of
demonstrations and other actions.
“We are extremely concerned about the approach of Unilever
senior management to this dispute in that they have rejected all
offers of talks including a proposal by Acas to go to
conciliation. As you are aware, this is the first ever
national strike in Unilever’s history, and it represents an
unprecedented response from employees, many of whom have decades of
loyal service and in some cases, who form part of generations of
people within their family who have worked for Unilever.
“These employees are angry; angry that the company is closing a
well-funded scheme that Unilever can afford to maintain, angry that
the company is not prepared to discuss any compromises as
alternatives to closure and angry not only at the refusal to engage
in discussion about resolution, but at the harsh approach seen
before Christmas in cancelling Christmas celebrations and
withdrawing gifts, rewards for 12 months of good service.
“No employee relishes strike action and our members in Unilever are
therefore very disappointed that they are left with no alternative
in the absence of any meaningful negotiations.
“This issue is already having a significant impact on the
previously very good reputation of Unilever, a company that prides
itself on a very positive corporate social responsibility image and
whose CEO, Paul Polman, in particular uses every opportunity to
speak about the importance of responsible corporate behaviour and
ensuring that the Unilever ‘Compass’ places a high value on
treatment of employees.
“We therefore very much hope that you will make the right
decision and will not support the recommendations of Unilever
management but instead will urge them to re-open talks in order to
negotiate a settlement that is good for the workforce and good for
the company.
“However, you should be aware that if the decision is to support
the company’s proposals, our members have resolved to continue with
their campaign using whatever means
possible.”
The letter is signed by the national officers for the Unite,
Usdaw and GMB unions.
ENDS
For further information please contact Karen Viquerat on 07768 931
316.
