100 per cent of the workforce voted for action

Skilled manufacturing workers based in Chesterfield undertaking repairs for companies ranging from British Steel to Thames Water will begin strike action this Monday in a dispute over pay.

The action being taken at ERIKS Industrial Services will have a dramatic effect, causing delays for customers.

8 days of strikes will take place on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 September, Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 September, Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September and then on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 October.

The Unite members are predominately skilled workers and earn £14.82 an hour but their colleagues doing the same roles in Cardiff and Swansea earn £15.64 an hour.

The current pay offer will worsen the earnings gap for the workers in Chesterfield who have been offered six per cent, plus an extra one per cent strings attached deal which requires them to work an extra half hour a day.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “ERIKS Industrial Services is a very successful company, the workers rightly refuse to accept being paid inferior rates to other colleagues doing the same work. To make matters even worse this profitable manufacturing company is offering workers a real terms pay cut.

“It’s no wonder 100% of the workforce voted for strike action and they have Unite’s rock solid support.”

Unite’s members are electromechanical engineers. ERIKS undertakes repairs and the replacement of electromechanical plant machinery both in the Chesterfield works and out on customers’ sites nationwide. Its customers range from British Steel, DB Cargo, Nestle, TfL, Skanska, Tarmac, Anglian Water, Thames Water and Drax Power Station.

Unite regional officer Paula Stephens said: “ERIKS has been dragging its heels since January this year. The end result is strike action and considerable disruption for the company’s clients.

“The company is profitable and the workers are highly skilled. It’s time for ERIKS to recognise the contribution the engineers in Chesterfield make to the success of the business.”

ENDS

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315