22/08/2012

Bombardier Workers Vote To Take Industrial Action

Hundreds of workers at Bombardier have voted to take industrial action and action short of strike in the coming weeks in a long running dispute over pay.

Of the Unite members balloted, 81 per cent voted in favour of strike action and 94 per cent voted in favour of action short of strike. The action will consist of a continuous overtime ban effective from Saturday 25 August and six periods of discontinuous strike action between Sunday 26 August and Saturday 9 September.

Bombardier is offering a below inflation increase of 2.5 per cent (for this year), but the company is refusing to share vital financial information to justify this offer.

The employer was served with notice of industrial action last week (Friday 17 August) following a scheduled meeting where Unite asked local managers to make an improved offer, which was declined. These workers service Virgin’s west coast (until December 2012) and Arriva’s cross country fleet of trains. The majority of the workers are based in the Central Rivers depot, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire.

Unite regional officer, Mick Stevens, said: "Unite members have given their full cooperation to Bombardier. They expect their pay award to reflect their efforts.

"Bombardier is offering a below inflation increase of 2.5 per cent, but the company is refusing to share vital financial information to justify this offer. The workers now feel they have no options but to take industrial action and the high turnout and overwhelming ballot result reflects the anger of the workforce."

(CD)

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