Following five consecutive Friday strikes, Unite members at Sulzer Pumps are escalating the action. Monday 3rd July was the first Monday strike which will continue, but they also plan to go out for the entire week from Monday 17th July.
Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party
The company has refused to re-open negotiations confined only to this year’s pay. But have offered to discuss a new deal if it was to go over 2 years. But the offer so far is for just £1700 extra, or a 5% increase on the skilled rate.
As one rep explained to us “This company makes £20m in profits, mostly from this site. At the beginning of the strike they said we wouldn’t get anyone on the picket line, but we know our action is starting to cause serious disruption and company, so hopefully they’ll now negotiate properly with us”.
As well as escalating the intensity of strike action, Unite members have also discussed sending a delegation to protest outside Sulzer’s head office in Switzerland.