Workers at a County Durham chemicals company have started strike action this week amid an acrimonious pay dispute.
Almost 100 workers at the Consett-based plant have launched a series of 24 hour strikes, beginning November 30, over a 5.1% pay increase offer which GMB Union says angered its members. The union claimed the firm was potentially cancelling pre-booked holidays over the Christmas period - branding the firm a "grinch".
Last week the company's CEO Harry Swan said that a potential overtime ban among GMB members meant that in instances where pre-booked holidays needed to be covered by a colleague working overtime, "there may be no alternative than to cancel those holidays". Mr Swan said the industrial action would not affect the firm's annual shutdown over Christmas and New Year.
