Workers offered large pay cut while Trelleborg brings in millions

More than 100 workers at the Leicester factory of industrial sealing solution firm Trelleborg are being balloted for strike action, Unite, the UK’s the leading union, said today (Wednesday). 

The shop floor workers have rejected a one-year deal of four per cent, plus a £700 lump sum. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 11.4 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut. 

Trelleborg Industrial Products latest financial returns, meanwhile, show it made a gross profit of £9 million for the year ending December 2021. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Trelleborg is making substantial profits but demanding its workforce shoulder a large real terms pay cut during a cost of living crisis. Our members are simply asking for a reasonable pay increase, which Trelleborg can more than afford to pay. Unite is entirely focused on defending and improving our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Trelleborg’s Leicester workforce will be receiving the union’s full support.” 

The ballot for strike action closes on 21 June, with strike action expected to be announced shortly afterwards. The Leicester site makes products for Bombardier, Alstom, M.T.R.C, JBC, Caterpillar and John Deere.

Unite regional officer Lakhy Mahal said: “Trelleborg’s customers will not be pleased if their supply chains are disrupted by the company’s greed. Trelleborg’s management need to put forward an offer that is acceptable to our members – it can clearly afford to.”

Strikes at Trelleborg’s factories in Gloucestershire and Somerset ended last week after workers at those sites, who were also in a dispute over pay, accepted a significantly improved offer from the company.

ENDS 

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

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion

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