Workers at a Consett chemical manufacturing company that supplied hand sanitiser during the pandemic are set to strike in a row over pay.
Around 100 workers for firm Thomas Swan will walk out later this month after GMB Union members voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of strike action. The union says members have rejected a pay offer tabled by Thomas Swan of 5.1% capped at £1,000 and are calling for a higher increase in wages to help workers during the cost of living crisis.
Workers are preparing to strike for five separate days from November to January, starting on November 30, with an overtime ban also in place from November 29.
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Andrew Blunt, regional organiser for GMB Union, said 92.4% of members voted in favour of striking following a ballot.
"The company made hand sanitiser throughout the pandemic and workers worked all the way through it, putting their families at risk at the time, and now Thomas Swan are not helping them through the cost of living crisis," he said.
"The company offered an increase 5.1% which was capped at £1,000 so in real terms, it wasn't 5.1%. We are calling on the company for a realistic pay offer to help workers through the cost of living crisis.
"Thomas Swan is a big employer in Consett and a lot of people in the local area rely on it, so there are a lot of families it is going to affect. Some workers have been there for 20 to 30 years and have given everything to the company."
Thomas Swan is an independent chemical manufacturing company, founded in Consett in 1926. It has offices in the UK, USA and China and exports to over 80 countries worldwide.
A Thomas Swan spokeswoman said: "We understand and fully appreciate the difficulties facing our employees due to the adverse economic climate in which we are currently operating. The company is aware of the results of the recent ballot and have offered to engage with GMB representatives in a collective conciliation process with ACAS.
"We believe that a resolution to the current dispute, which would be fair and reasonable for all of those involved, can be achieved through constructive dialogue."
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