NGF workers angry pay offer less than colleagues received at sister company Pilkingtons sites

St Helen’s engineering and maintenance workers employed by NGF, which produces glass cord used in rubber and plastic products, will strike over pay.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are angry at being offered a 5.65 per cent pay rise plus an £800 bonus that is lower than offers received by their colleagues at nearby sites. 

NGF is a sister company to Pilkingtons UK, whose workers at a number of sites in the surrounding region have received pay rises 6.75 per cent plus £750 and 7.5 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are rightly angry they are being treated as second class employees compared to their colleagues at nearby Pilkingtons. Unite is now completely focused on protecting and improving our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these workers will receive their union’s total support.”

The workers will stage two 48 hours strikes on 2 July and 14 July. If the dispute is not resolved strike action will escalate. The dispute also involved members of the GMB union. 

NGF Europe produce glass chord which is primarily used in the manufacture of tyres, rubber and thermoplastic products across many sectors. The industrial action will primarily impact the manufacture and supply of belt components across the automotive, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien said: “Disruption to NGF’s clients will be entirely the fault of the company for expecting its employees to take a lesser pay deal than their colleagues at Pilkingons. NGF needs to come back with an offer our members can accept.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite senior communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.

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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.