Employees at Creative Composites, the Lisburn-based car parts manufacturer, are taking their second day of strike action seeking an inflation proof pay increase.

The strike action follows a ballot of workers in which there was unanimity for industrial action, up to an including strike.

Unite the union understands that the strike action has effectively shut down production at the factory which provides plastic components for a variety of vehicle manufacturers including Hyster-Yale, Wrightbus as well as high profile sports car builders such as Lotus and McLauren.

Unite the union General Secretary Sharon Graham offered her encouragement to the workforce.

“Workers at Creative Composites are understandably fighting for a pay rise that offers genuine protection from the impact of inflation. At a time when corporate profits are hitting all-time highs workers believe they should have a share of the spoils. And rightly so.

“Creative Composites is a highly successful manufacturer with a bulging order book. Management need to return to the negotiating table with a pay increase that meets what the union are asking for. That’s what’s needed to get a deal that ends the strike. Simple.”

Regional officer for the workers is Neil Moore who spoke from the picket line.

“The workforce at Creative Composites make world-class components for champion sports cars, for hydrogen-powered buses and for heavy industrial construction vehicles. These are highly skilled workers many who have decades of years of experience but many now find themselves in a situation where they are paid the bare legal minimum wage.

“Highly-skilled and experienced workers need to know that those skills and that experience is valued by their employer. Creative Composites has allowed the difference between their workforce and the legal minimum to be eroded to the point that it has all but disappeared entirely. They need to make an inflation-proof pay increase to end this strike and to ensure the skills needed for future success are retained.”