Politicians have criticised a manufacturing firm in Bury after it shut down operations ahead of a strike by almost 200 staff. Employees at Polyflor in Whitefield took part in a two hour walkout on Wednesday in a row over pay.
But the GMB trade union said workers involved were told by bosses at the vinyl flooring firm not to turn up for their shifts this week, in a move described as a 'vindictive attack'. Polyflor said the shutdown was 'unavoidable' due to 'economic inefficiencies' caused by the strike.
In a letter to the company, Bury council leader Eamonn O'Brien said he 'stood with' the striking workers, adding: "It can't be right that hundreds of workers face reduced pay for exercising their right to industrial action."
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Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said staff were being treated 'no better off than workers on zero hours contracts'. In a letter to Polyflor he added: "It is frankly quite disturbing that you have used a clause in the workers' contract to intimidate them into backing down from strike action in what I can only describe as 'fire and rehire lite'."
Speaking yesterday, GMB regional organiser Stephen Boden said: "GMB has written to the company demanding an explanation. This looks like a vindictive attack on workers due to take legitimate industrial action over pay.
"Members are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, all they are looking for is a fair settlement of 10% - which is still below inflation. Meanwhile the company dishes out £24m to shareholders.
"GMB is encouraging bosses to get back around the table and enter meaningful negotiations to bring the dispute to a close."
A spokesperson for Polyflor told the BBC: "The closing down and restarting of the factory, for a two-hour withdrawal of labour as organised by the GMB, is significantly problematical. This, combined with supplier problems and a shortage of labour, huge energy cost increases has and continues to impact our production.
"Due to economically inefficiencies, this has resulted in the entire shutdown of the factory on those days. Whilst we have not laid off any of our employees they have, unavoidably, been unable to work on days when the factory is closed.
"We remain in close and continued dialogue with our employees to try and resolve this situation."
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