Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at chemical company Venator Materials Ltd, will begin strike action this week in a dispute over pay.

The company, which produces pigments and additives, has only offered the workers a five per cent pay increase – far below the rate of inflation.

The 100 plus members of Unite at the company recorded an 81 per cent vote in favour of strike action on an 84 per cent turnout.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Venator is a wealthy company which is prepared to pay its chief executive a telephone number salary but believes it is somehow acceptable to inflict a real terms pay cut on its workers.

 “Unite will be giving its members at Venator its complete support until this dispute is resolved and they receive a decent pay increase.”

The workers will take a total of 10 days of strike action (see note to editors for details) this month in the dispute. The first four day strike will begin on Thursday 1 September at 18:59 and will initially involve the night shift.

Although the company is trying to force its workers to accept a real terms pay cut it has been far more generous to its president and chief executive officer Simon Turner. His remuneration package more than doubled in 2021 and he received a total of $9.917 (£8.53) million, including $4 (£3.44) million into his pension.

Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown said: “Venator has had every opportunity to offer our members a decent pay increase but it has chosen not to. Strike action will undoubtedly cause disruption, shortages and delays across the company’s supply chain but this dispute is entirely of Venator’s own making.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Strike details: Commencing at 18:59 hours on the 1 September 2022 and continuing each day up to 5 September 2022 when the action will conclude at 18:59 hours.

Commencing at 18:50 on 13 September 2022 and continuing each day up to 17 September 2022 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours.

Commencing at 06:59 on 27 September 2022 and continuing each day up to 29 September 2022 when the action will conclude at 19:59 hours.

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.