Telford GKN workers protest in pay dispute
Dozens of disgruntled workers at a Telford wheel plant held a demonstration in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Protestors led by union leaders gathered outside GKN Wheels and Structures, in Hadley, following their shifts on Monday afternoon.
The company and union officials have accused each other of declining to continue negotiations over pay and redundancy and workers held a similar demonstration last week.
Almost 200 Employees at the Hadley Castle Works have also voted to launch industrial action next month.
A GKN statement read: "GKN Wheels & Structures confirms that it has received notification from the GMB and Unite trade unions, that their members will take part in discontinuous strike action at our Telford site on July 5, 12, 19 and 26.
"The GMB union also organised a gathering before and after shifts at the Telford site scheduled for Monday June 28.
"Whilst this decision is disappointing we can assure our customers that contingency plans are in place to ensure our plant continues to operate safely and to enable us to minimise disruptions and continue to supply and meet orders from our global customers.
"After undertaking a review of the collective agreements we proposed a change to the agreement which will only affect new starters and is of no detriment to existing employees, with their terms and conditions of employment remaining unchanged.
"The unions have not accepted this proposed change and have declined to continue negotiations on a pay increase for 2021.
"The site employs 191 staff eligible to participate in the proposed action. The company remains fully committed to finding a solution to this matter."
The wheel manufacturer made RAF Spitfires during the Second World War World and currently produces off-road wheels for brands such as JCB.
GMB regional organiser Stuart Harrison said: “Many of these workers have given the best years of their lives to GKN Sankey but are being rewarded with draconian cuts.
“It’s not too late for GKN Sankey to respect its workers, get round the table with GMB and prevent industrial action from going ahead.”
The union said the affected workers had a combined 4,000 years’ experience and voted for industrial action over concerns about redundancy packages and pay.
