Unite members in the corrugated board industry ballot for
industrial action
12 November 2010
The 2,500 Unite members working in the corrugated board industry
have voted by a 9-1 majority to reject a 2.15 per cent pay offer
from the employers body, the Confederation of Paper Industries
(CPI).
Unite national officer, Peter Ellis, said: “Last year, because of
the economic climate, the big three (David S Smith, Smurfit Kappa
and SAICA) were able to get away with paying a minimal increase and
reaped the benefit with very good profits.
“This year, as they continue to make good profits, the employers
are trying to use the uncertain employment market to do the
same.
“At the talks in early October, we could have settled on a modest
improvement to the offer, but the CPI insisted that a pay
settlement at less than half of the retail prices
index was as far as it was prepared to go.
“Unite members will now go to a ballot for industrial action.
The aim is for a far higher settlement than could have been
achieved by a continuation of the partnership approach, that has
set us in such good stead over recent years.”
ENDS
For further information contact Peter Ellis on 07774 663499 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761
Email to a friend
