Dumfries based plant to be hit by five stoppages

Unite the union has served notice on a series of stoppages to hit the Dumfries based DuPont Teijin Films (DTF) plant.

 Five rounds of 12-hour stoppages, involving around 100 Unite members, will take place on 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 September. A continuous overtime ban has also been in place since July.

 DTF is a major supplier of polyester films for electrical, medical, photo, print and photovoltaic uses to UK supermarkets, as well as institutional catering for hospitals, schools and home-meals for the elderly. 

Unite has accused DTF management of by-passing the agreed collective bargaining procedures, and the workforce’s trade union representatives, to impose a 3.3 per cent wage offer in April. The broader rate of inflation (RPI) has remained stubbornly high throughout the year, and currently stands at 9 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “Unite’s Dupont membership are not prepared to tolerate a company which imposes a wage offer, and also refuses to talk with the workforce’s trade union. A 3.3 per cent offer represents a massive, real terms pay cut and our members won’t stand for it. DuPont workers who have been ignored by management will soon make their voices heard when they down tools. We will fully support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.” 

DTF across the UK recorded profits after tax of £2.86m year ending 31 December 2021 with turnover rising by 10 per cent from the previous year to £97 million. The company’s European manufacturing sites are based in Dumfries and Luxembourg, with its Global Innovation Centre located in Teesside. 

Andy Macfarlane, Unite industrial officer, added: “DuPont imposed a brutal wage cut on our members in April without any negotiation. Our members have no option but to take strike action, and we don’t rule out more days.” 

“Management have not addressed longstanding issues over different rates of pay, shift allowances, and holiday entitlements among workers. Unite is clear that workers in the same area who are carrying out exactly the same duties must be paid the same rate, and they must enjoy the same terms and conditions. This dispute is entirely of DuPont’s making, for management to resolve it, they need to quickly get back round the table before this dispute escalates.”

 

ENDS