Paint shortages are looming across the UK as workers employed by International Paints (parent company Akzo Nobel) will begin strike action later this month in a dispute over pay.

Real terms pay cut

The 230 plus workers are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union. They voted for strike action after rejecting a pay offer of 4.8 per cent, which is in effect a substantial real terms pay cut, with the true inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 11.3 per cent.

The workers, who are based at the Stoneygate Lane factory, produce specialist paints, which are used on ships and offshore facilities, as well as producing the polymer that is used in most Akzo Nobel’s paint brands, including Dulux.

Vital roles

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members undertake vital roles and are critical to the success of Akzo Nobel, in the teeth of the cost of living crisis there is no way they are going to accept a significant real terms pay cut.

 “Unite is totally focused on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at International Paints will receive the union’s complete support.”

Strike dates

Strike action will begin on Thursday 27 July and will take place on every Monday and Thursday for a four week period with the last day of industrial action initially scheduled for Thursday 24 August.

The workers who are taking strike action include production and distribution workers, engineering and technical support, some office and admin support and personnel in research and development.

Severe disruption

Unite regional officer Craig Cuggy said: “Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to the UK’s paint supply but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making. It has had every opportunity to make a fair pay offer but it has refused to do so.”

ENDS

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.