Shrewsbury factory workers to walk out in pay row
Workers at an engineering plant in Shrewsbury will walk out next week in a dispute over pay.
Shop floor workers at Doncasters have voted to take industrial action after talks to thrash out a wage increase failed. They will down tools at the Whitchurch Road site in Shrewsbury on Monday.
It is understood that shop floor workers have refused a pay offer of 1.8 per cent. But a similar offer has already been accepted by other staff at the engineering factory.
The pay deal is still on the table, but it is understood bosses at Doncasters have threatened to withdraw it by 1pm tomorrow unless it is accepted. It is unclear how many staff will be involved in the action.
Unite the Union has been representing the shop floor workers in a recent round of pay talks, which has been mediated by Acas.
One of the workers at Doncasters, who did not want to be named, said: "We're getting messed about all ways. The pay deal is the main one, but now there are so many other issues too."
He said the strike would involve all shop-floor workers, but not staff members, apprentices or non-union members.
Stefan Blasczyk, regional officer for Unite the Union said: "Doncasters has been given notice that we will take industrial action with regard to a 1.8 per cent pay deal.
"There are two groups at the firm. There are the staff who have accepted a similar pay deal and there are the shop workers who haven't. We had a meeting this week following another meeting with ACAS but have not been able to find some common ground."Industrial action is now planned as the next step forward in the process."
Doncasters Group manufactures precision components and assemblies for the aerospace, industrial gas turbine, turbocharger components, petrochemical, construction, industrial, transportation and superalloy markets.
It maintains a staff of approximately 5,000 employees operating through 30 manufacturing sites across the UK, continental Europe, the USA, Mexico and China.
Simon Ward, general manager for Doncasters UK Fabrications – Aerospace Division, said: "It is Doncasters' policy to not comment on any possible ongoing discussions with its employees and unions."
