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Unite members in corrugated board reject pay offer

Published: 3 December 2010
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Unite members working in the corrugated board industry are to ballot for industrial action. The 2,500 Unite members covered by the National Agreement voted by a 9-1 majority to reject a 2.15% pay offer from employer's body the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI).



Unite members will now go to a ballot for industrial action with the aim of winning "a far higher settlement than could have been achieved by a continuation of the partnership approach". Unite national officer Peter Ellis said the original claim had been for a 3.6% pay rise, but that they would have settled for less if the employers had agreed.



He said: "Last year, because of the economic climate, David S Smith, Smurfit Kappa and SAICA were able to get away with paying a minimal increase and reaped the benefit with very good profits.



"This year, as they continue to make good profits, the employers are trying to use the uncertain employment market to do the same."



He added that at talks in early October, Unite could have settled on what Peter Ellis describes as "a modest improvement" to the 2.15% offer. "But the CPI insisted that a pay settlement at less than half the RPI was as far as it was prepared to go," he said.



Unite AGS Tony Burke said: “The CPI could have avoided a ballot for industrial action by making both unions an improved offer. The decision of the members is overwhelming and we will be busy organizing the ballot over the coming weeks.”



GMB members covered by the national agreement have also voted against the CPI offer.