Many of the UK’s largest companies are braced for problems and delays in acquiring specialist pumping products as workers at Leeds based Sulzer Pumps, have announced strike action following a poor pay offer.

Real terms pay cut

The approx 100 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, who are based at the company’s Manor Mill Lane factory have rejected a pay offer of 6.5 per cent and a £275 one off payment. The pay offer was in effect a substantial real terms pay cut with the current true rate of inflation (RPI) at 11.4 per cent.

The workers will initially take strike action next month on 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 June as well as 7 July.

Wealthy company

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase but has cynically chosen not to do so in order to further boost its profits.

“Unite is now entirely focused on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Sulzer Pumps will receive Unite’s complete support.”

Oil industry affected

Sulzer Pumps produces pumps for the oil and water industries as well as for nuclear power stations, the strike action will result in severe delays in customers receiving its products.

The company is highly profitable, its latest accounts for 2021 reveal that it made a gross profit of £32.6 million.

Severe disruption

Unite regional officer Karl Stephenson said: “Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to Sulzer Pumps and its clients but this strike action is entirely of the company’s own making. It has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute but has declined to do so.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

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.