Unilever Workers To Strike Over Pensions Row
Union leaders representing the workers at Unilever will meet to decide their next move in the pensions row
4:44pm UK, Saturday January 07, 2012
Leaders of three trade unions decided to call strikes for up to 12 days starting on January 17.
Thousands of employees will be involved at sites across the country.
Unilever need to get the message that profitable companies will not be granted to walk away from their savings commitments to their loyal workforce.
Allan Black, national officer of the GMB
Unions stated the action will hit production of goods including Marmite and PG Tips.
Workers held a one-day strike last year in protest at the ending of Unilever’s final salary pension scheme.
Workers from sites at Purfleet, Port Sunlight, Warrington, Leeds, Crumlin, Gloucester, Manchester, Burton-on-Trent and Chester state they are fighting an “unjustified” attack on their pensions.
Unions stated the walkouts will hit production of the global giant’s leading brands, including Dove, Marmite, PG Tips, Pot Noodle and Hellman’s Mayonnaise.
Unite, the GMB and Usdaw state the company’s plans to axe the final salary pension scheme will see the retirement income of thousands of staff slashed by up to 40%.
Speaking after the latest union meeting in Liverpool, the national officer of Unite Jennie Formby, said: “It would seem that Unilever believed the workers would give up after one day’s strike but they are badly mistaken.
This was a tough but necessary choice which reflects the realities of rising life expectancy and increased market volatility… We believe the provision of final salary pensions is a broken model which is no longer appropriate for Unilever.
Statement from Unilever
“The workforce is angry that the company has refused to meet us or to attend speaks at the conciliation service Acas.”
Allan Black, national officer of the GMB said: “Unilever need to get the message that profitable companies will not be granted to walk away from their savings commitments to their loyal workforce.”
Mr Black warned of further strikes unless the row is resolved.
Unilever has issued a statement saying the company respects the rights of its employees to protest about the planned changes but remains “deeply concerned by the disproportionate action the trade unions are taking”.
“This was a tough but necessary choice which reflects the realities of rising life expectancy and increased market volatility,” the statement said.
“We believe the provision of final salary pensions is a broken model which is no longer appropriate for Unilever.
“It is our responsibility to protect the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of our business, and to do so is in the ideal interests of our people.
“The pension arrangements which we plan to implement in July this year are exceptionally competitive, and were significantly enhanced in a total of 13 different ways as a result of the feedback we received from our employees during the 100-day consultation process.
“We believe these significant changes underscore the value and legitimacy of the consultation process which was concluded in early October.
“It is currently not clear how the dispute with the trade unions will be resolved – but we are continuing to urge our employees who have participated in industrial action to give further objective consideration to the very competitive new arrangements.
“By continuing to offer all of our employees a defined benefit career average pension plan on their earnings up to £48,000, we are offering arrangements which are unavailable at most other companies in the UK.”
source : news.sky.com
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