Ballot papers being sent out to Shotton steelworkers.
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, May 6th, 2015
Workers at Tata’s Shotton Steel are to be balloted on strike action in a dispute over changes to the companies pensions scheme.
Unions will start to send out ballot papers today after giving the company official legal notice last week.
GMB give official notice for strike ballot at Tata steel in dispute over pensions http://t.co/kBTgEQwqiT #gmb #tata #strike #pensions
— GMB Press Office (@GMBPressOffice) April 28, 2015
If enough ofTata’s 17,000 UK workers, which includes around 850 in Shotton, do vote for strike action, it’ll be the largest coordinated level of industrial action the steel industry in the UK has seen for 35 years.
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Talks have broken down between the unions – Community, GMB, UCATT and Unite and Tata Steel management over the proposed changes to their final-salary pension scheme.
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Talks have broken down between the unions – Community, GMB, UCATT and Unite and Tata Steel management over the proposed changes to their final-salary pension scheme.
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Tata Steel, the country’s biggest steelmaker, says it remains open to unconditional talks with the unions to find resolutions to the “very substantial challenges facing the pension scheme,” a spokesperson said.
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However, Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community said;”
“We’ve made numerous attempts to meet with company and they’ve refused to lift the threats that would allow for meaningful consultation to take place. I believe they had a hidden agenda from day one to close the pension scheme.”
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DaveHulse, national officer for steel at GMB said:
“Our members are determined to stand up for their pensions and they will now have the opportunity to show their resolve by voting for strike action.”
Tata Steel, the country’s biggest steelmaker, says it remains open to unconditional talks with the unions to find resolutions to the “very substantial challenges facing the pension scheme,” a spokesperson said.
.
However, Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community said;”
“We’ve made numerous attempts to meet with company and they’ve refused to lift the threats that would allow for meaningful consultation to take place. I believe they had a hidden agenda from day one to close the pension scheme.”
.
DaveHulse, national officer for steel at GMB said:
“Our members are determined to stand up for their pensions and they will now have the opportunity to show their resolve by voting for strike action.”
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The British Steel Pension Scheme had 143,000 members up to December 2014 with 17,004 making up employee members and 91,264 making up pensioner members, the scheme has assets valued at around £13.6 billion and continue to increase.
The British Steel Pension Scheme had 143,000 members up to December 2014 with 17,004 making up employee members and 91,264 making up pensioner members, the scheme has assets valued at around £13.6 billion and continue to increase.
