Bosses at a Kilmarnock firm are 'failing to own its mistakes' as workers prepare to go on strike tomorrow, a union claims.
Over 120 staff at Mahle Engine Systems are set to walk out over a pay dispute on six days over the coming weeks, Unite has confirmed.
The row relates to pay discrepancies at the Kilmarnock plant after management failed to apply an extra increase to the entire workforce, in addition to a 3.4 per cent increase which all workers received from January 2023
Mahle union members have agreed to an overtime ban which came into effect at 7am today and will last until August 14.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite members at Mahle have emphatically backed strike action due to the company’s mismanagement. It’s not fair that on top of the agreed rate for this year an extra pay increase was made to some of the workforce instead of applying it to all. Period. The strike action is entirely due to Mahle management failing to own its mistakes.
“Unite’s members will have their union’s total support in their fight for equal treatment and better jobs, pay and conditions at the Kilmarnock plant.”
Workers will strike on May 16, 18, 23, 25 30 and June 1 after there was no breakthrough following union talks with the engineering firm.
The trade union is demanding that the ‘top-up’, which equates to 6.8 per cent on top of the January increase, be applied to all workers across the plant. Unite has also accused Mahle of acting outside the collective bargaining arrangements.
The Kilmarnock-based plant makes high-quality components for motorsport engines, combustion engines and electric vehicles. Unite has a two-year pay agreement with the Mahle following industrial action at the company in April 2022.
Unite industrial officer, Paul Bennett added: “Unite has sought to resolve this dispute through negotiation but Mahle management refuse to front up the mess which they have created. This dispute could be resolved immediately if they gave all their workers the same rise. That’s obvious to everyone but them.
“A series of stoppages will now take place over the coming weeks and Mahle have nobody to blame but themselves.”
A spokesperson for Mahle said: "Negotiations with the trade union, UNITE, at the MAHLE plant in Kilmarnock are still ongoing.
"We regret that no agreement has been reached so far. Therefore, we are disappointed that the declared strike action is still being undertaken. "
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