Ryan FowlerWorkers at ELE Advanced Technologies in Lancashire, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have overwhelmingly voted to strike starting Wednesday, 1 May, following unsuccessful negotiations over pay increases.
Despite the company’s claims of providing an “inspiring, supportive, and collaborative working environment,” it has offered what amounts to a real-term pay cut against an inflation rate of 11.3% as of last May.
The company proposed a £1,000 pay rise (about four percent) from May 2023 and five percent from May 2024, which the workers have rejected. The strike will commence at 06:00 on 1 May and continue through 3 May, with further actions possible if the pay offer is not improved.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, commented on the situation: “This is a prime example of a company manipulating financial data to try to suppress workers’ wages and it has been caught red-handed. ELE Advanced Technologies can absolutely afford to pay its workers better wages. Unite always stands shoulder to shoulder with our members to ensure we secure better jobs, pay, and conditions for every single one of them.”
The company has cited financial difficulties from moving to a larger manufacturing facility and long-term investments as reasons for not affording the wage increase, despite the CEO receiving a 12 percent wage increase last year.
Ross Quinn, Unite regional officer, stated: “ELE Advanced Technologies has pushed our members to the limit. Every single worker has been repeatedly let down by broken promises. Wages have not kept up with inflation. Moreover, investors of the company are set to see massive returns.”
The impending strike is expected to cause shortages and disruptions for ELE’s clients, including major firms like Rolls Royce and Siemens, but Quinn insists, “This dispute is entirely of its own making. It has had months to resolve this dispute but has stubbornly chosen not to do so.”
