Strikes by glassmakers employed at the Pilkington factory in St Helens have been suspended following an improved pay offer from the company.
Unite the union have confirmed that strikes due to take place between 17 August and 23 August have been postponed to allow the workers to vote on the new offer.
If the offer is rejected, further strike action by the more than 170 workers – including production operators, warehouse staff, engineers and technicians – will be scheduled.
Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien said: “In sign of good faith, Unite has suspended strike action at Pilkington and will be balloting our members on the new offer.”
Earlier this week, Unite said that glassmakers, production operators, warehouse staff, engineers and technicians had rejected a five per cent pay offer arguing it is a pay cut in real terms when set against the rate of inflation (RPI), currently running at 11.8 per cent.
GMB union members are also involved in the dispute.
READ MORE: Cost of Living: List of firms helping staff with bonus payments
A spokesman for Pilkington, owned by Japan-based Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) Group, said at the time that colleagues should consider the impact of strike action on the business at a time when energy intensive manufacturers are facing unprecedented energy and raw material costs.
He later added: “We welcome the decision by the unions to suspend strike action to allow colleagues the opportunity to vote on our offer.”
READ MORE FROM BUSINESSLIVE:
- All our latest business news headlines
- Britishvolt work is limited for six months but company insists Northumberland factory is on track
- Energy costs relief planned for hundreds of businesses to stop them relocating abroad
The strikes and potential disputes that are happening over the next two months
