Workers at a Trafford paper factory which is used by the likes of Amazon and Dominoes are to begin industrial action this month following a pay dispute.
Saica Paper UK Ltd, which has a factory on Manchester Road in Carrington, produces 100 per cent recycled paper for corrugated cardboard and also works with big brands including Diageo and Intersnack.
The company recorded a gross profit of £69 million in its latest accounts filed at Companies House for 2021. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the company’s profits have been ‘steadily increasing’ in recent years.
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40 Unite members at the Trafford factory, who are employed in production roles, have now agreed six 12 and 24 hour strikes this month and in May. The workers recorded a 97 per cent vote in favour of strike action, having rejected a below inflation pay offer.
Unite said workers were offered a 9.5 per cent pay increase which they describe as being a real terms pay cut based on inflation. Unite added that workers on average only received 6.5 per cent of the offer in permanent pay, with the rest being a one-off lump sum payment.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Saica Paper is a highly profitable company which could and should be rewarding its workers with a fair pay increase. It is the hard work of our members which has made the company successful and it is only right that they receive a fair share of the company’s profits.
“Unite is totally focused on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Saica Paper will receive the union’s unswerving support.”
Workers will take part in 12 and 24 hour strikes on April 21, 25 and 29 with more industrial action scheduled for May 1, 5 and 8. The union says its largest clients, including sister company Saica Pack, will be heavily affected by strike action.
Unite regional officer Gary Fairclough said: "Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to Saica Paper’s customers but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making, pay talks began in September last year and it has stubbornly refused to make a fair pay offer.
“While the company is highly profitable, our members are struggling to pay their food and heating bills during the worst cost of living crisis experienced in the UK for decades.”
Saica Paper said it was aiming to minimise disruption and remained open to dialogue with employees to find a ‘workable’ solution.
A Saica Paper spokesperson told the M.E.N: “We are aware of the planned industrial action. We have taken steps to build up stock levels in advance of the planned days of action and are confident that we will be able to continue production. We will be liaising with clients as appropriate over the coming days to ensure we minimise disruption.
“As with businesses up and down in the UK, a combination of significant cost increases across everything from energy to transportation and raw materials are posing significant financial challenges that must be managed sensibly.
“While we respect the Union’s right to take this action, we have made an offer taking into consideration all these factors. We wholeheartedly value our employees, we remain open to dialogue and we are keen to get around the table again to find a solution that is workable to all concerned.”
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