Pay strikes at car bearing manufacturers NSK Bearings and AKS Precision Ball in Peterlee, County Durham, have intensified as workers step up their fight for a fair pay rise.

Around 200 workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have taken eight days of strike action since 23 March after rejecting an ‘offensive’ 1.6 per cent pay offer. The real cost of living, RPI, currently stands at nine per cent and is set to rise further.

They will now stage a further 11 days of strikes, which begin today (20 April) and end on 15 May. 

The factories are owned by NSK Europe, which reported gross profits of more than £80 million in 2021. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “NSK Europe makes huge profits. It can well afford to remove this offensive offer – which is a pay cut at a time of soaring living costs – and offer a pay deal that takes account of the present-day reality.  

“Unite will not stand for attacks on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and NSK’s County Durham workforce have the union’s full support in their fight for a fair pay rise.” 

The strike will hit the entire shopfloor workforce at the two factories, which produce bearings for automakers such as VW, Toyota and Renault. 

Unite regional coordinating officer Suzanne Reid said: “Despite NSK’s success, the company has been degrading our members’ pay for years and the workforce has had enough. 

“Unless NSK tables an acceptable offer this dispute will continue to escalate and cause further supply chain problems for its clients, including VW, Toyota and Renault.”

ENDS 

Strikes at County Durham car bearing factories set to disrupt automakers

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.