Workers have resumed strike action at an Ayrshire pharmaceutical firm in a row over bonus payments - and union chiefs admit the dispute could drag on.
Around 40 members of staff in engineering construction roles - all members of Unite, Scotland's largest union - downed tools at the Irvine GSK plant this morning.
The strike is expected to last a full week and follows a previous round of strike action that took place from January 9 to January 23.
The workers, employed by contractor Kaefer Limited, are seeking a bonus payment of £2.37 an hour.
That's the maximum allowed under the relevant industrial agreement (National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).
And Union bosses today refused to rule out further strike action as they insisted their members are determined to get what they feel they are owed.
The current round of strike action is in addition to an existing discontinuous overtime ban which ends on Apri 2. The industrial action will directly impact on the maintenance of the plant.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite stands fully behind our members taking a further round of strike action at the GSK operated plant in Irvine.
“Kaefer is still refusing to award our members what they are entitled to under a UK-wide agreement.
"GSK who are awash with profits is also standing idly by and permitting this situation to needlessly escalate.
"We will continue to support our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at the plant.”
The strike action involves electricians, scaffolder, cable pullers and labourers.
Unite say GSK, which operates the Irvine plant, recorded sales of £7.8 billion in the third quarter of 2022, and a total operating profit of £1.2 billion.
Unite industrial officer Paul Bennett said the strike action was a reflection of the anger and disappointment workers feel at the way they are being treated.
He added: "We are only asking for what our members are entitled to yet Kaefer seem determined to prolong this dispute rather than work with us to resolve it.
“Unite will not rule out further rounds of strike action because our members are determined to get what they are owed.”
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