Unite members at Sulzer pumps were out in force for the first of a series Friday strikes until 7th July called in their dispute over pay with the company. Making high performance pumps, including for oil rigs, the Leeds site alone was projected to bring in over £20m in profit this year.
Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party
Despite this soaring profit, the company is only offering a below inflation 6.5% increase and £275 lump sum. Meanwhile RPI inflation is above 11%.
As with many other workplaces, lots of workers had not been on strike before, with the last strike at Sulzer being in the 1980s. Last year the workforce came close to taking strike action over pay, but a further year into the cost of living crisis workers are determined to win a better pay offer.
As part of the ‘Back to the Workplace’ policy of Sharon Graham the workplace now has its own branch and pickets told us of having supported striking ambulance workers across the road from the factory, with passing ambulances tooting support at the picket line whilst we passed.