News

Unite members at Tyneside safety glass will take two weeks of strike action beginning on 18th October 2010, it was agreed at a chapel meeting today 8 October.

Seventy three Unite members at Tyneside Safety Glass, Team Valley, Gateshead begun their dispute on 20 September, 2010.

The company has imposed a second year of pay freezes, combined with changes to shift patterns which in some cases added ten hours to the working week, taking Unite members up to the maximum 48 hour working week.The shift changes made with minimal notice will give the workers little or no family life. Basic pay is not that far above the national minimum wage and a further year of pay freezes will see their pay fall closer to the minimum wage.

Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said:

"Our members are absolutely determined to stand up to the bullying and intimidation from this company. Tyneside safety glass now face a fortnight of industrial action unless the company is prepared to see sense and treat its workforce fairly. The workers have shown tremendous courage in this dispute and  Unite is 100 per cent behind them."