Belfast councillors have given a round of applause to striking workers from the Dunmurry-based manufacturer Survitec.
At the first full meeting of the Council since last month's elections, a delegation of workers from the lifeboat and safety equipment supplier gave a presentation at City Hall on the need for "inflation-proof" pay increases.
Around 160 workers have been on the picket line since last Thursday, after Unite the Union members within the workforce rejected an offer of a six percent rise from the bosses.
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The City Hall delegation warned councillors of an impending wave of strikes across Belfast as workers from a number of companys have been forced to take strike action to win inflation-proof pay increases.
David Magee, employee at Survitec for 25 years, told the chamber: “The workforce morale is at an all time low, the union has a 100 percent vote for industrial action. People joining our union would never have considered joining in the past, that's how much they believe we deserve an inflationary pay rise from the employers.
“During the pandemic, the Dunmurry site kept Survitec afloat. Those who worked throughout the pandemic to this day have not been thanked properly. They feel disrespected, disillusioned and disheartened. The site is an operational excellence site that has won awards, and they have not been thanked for the blood sweat and tears they put into this company.”
Another employee at Survitec for over 40 years told the chamber: “I have never felt as humiliated to work for a life-saving company as I have felt this last four to five years. From 2018 to the present we have had 78 pence on our basic rate - this has the workforce out.
“We would like a bit of support from councillors - we have had a bit of media and people from the DUP and People Before Profit. But we want to get it out there, and hurt them because they are hurting us, in our pockets, as we try to keep our homes.” She added: “It’s not a lot to ask with the profits that company is making.”
Regional Officer for Unite the Union, Neil Moore, told the chamber: “These are highly skilled manufacturing workers who should be given first class pay rates and first class jobs, yet, they are struggling. We have some workers having to rely on foodbanks, workers not able to make their rent, and not able to pay their mortgages.
“And yet, at the same time, we have a company, whose highest paid director took home £859,000 in 2021 - that’s 19 times higher the average salary of a Survitec employee in the UK. On top of that, just to rub salt in the wounds, real-term pay has decreased by 26 percent in this company, which has gone from owner to owner, to squeeze more profit from the company off the backs of these workers.
“We can appreciate the costs are increasing, but the electric bill still gets paid in Dunmurry, the rent still gets paid in Dunmurry, the increased cost for material still gets paid, but yet workers have to take the cuts for the cost of production, the cost of living, and the cost of greed crisis.
“We thank those councillors that have stood with the workers, and we would like to challenge and invite all the other councillors in this chamber to come and visit our picket lines.”
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham congratulated the striking Survitec workers on their initiative. She said: “It is vital that workers speak truth to power. The members of Belfast City Council from all parties need to get behind workers as they fight for inflation-proof pay increases.
“It is not enough to sit on the sidelines and encourage negotiations – we need to see political representatives taking the side of workers. The current cost of living crisis is the worst in generations but the inflation in costs has not been caused by workers fighting for decent wages.
“The real culprits are big businesses who have been profiteering literally as never before. Workers cannot and will not pay the price for this crisis.”
Unite has also confirmed that workers at Lisburn-based Creative Composites voted by 100 percent on a 100 percent turnout for strike action on pay. Councillors gave the delegation a round of applause at the end of their presentation.
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