Unite members working for API Holographics in Salford to strike
23 September 2011
WHEN: Monday 26 September 2011, from 6am
WHERE: API Holographics, Astor Road, Eccles New
Road, Salford, M50 1BB
Unite members working for API Holographics in Salford have voted
to take 24 hours strike action starting at 6am on Monday 26
September over a breakdown in negotiations with the company
surrounding a long running disagreement on a pay freeze
agreement.
The workers at the packaging firm have also given notice to
stage further 24 hour stoppages should the dispute remain
unresolved.
Unite says that the company is refusing to offer an acceptable
review to existing staff of a "pay neutral" agreement, signed in
2009 when the company was in some financial difficulties and making
redundancies at the site, although the fortunes of the company have
now changed. A clause in the agreement specifically allows for this
to happen, yet all attempts to resolve the dispute by negotiation
have not as yet been successful.
The workers at Salford are also planning to take industrial
action consisting of a continued over-time ban in an effort to
resolve the dispute and restart meaningful negotiations.
Unite regional officer, Alison Jones, said: “Our members in
Salford feel they have no choice but to take this action as
discussions with the company have failed to provide a satisfactory
outcome. The staff have always worked with their employer to ensure
that it remains competitive and have shown their willingness to
compromise regarding previous wage claims.
“However, as the company has now returned to profit, they just
wish to be rewarded for the commitment and support they have given
as these workers have not had a pay rise since 2007.
“We remain available to talk with the company at any time to
resolve this issue and urge management to return to the negotiating
table.”
ENDS
For further details contact Alison Jones on 07717 787358 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761.
