Drivers at Indesit UK vote to strike

More than 200 drivers and warehouse staff at white goods manufacturer Indesit UK could be about to walk out, after Unite members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a recent ballot.

In the ballot, which ran from 23 June to 7 July, 93% of Unite members voted for strike action while 97% voted for industrial action short of a strike. This was in response to what the union said is two years of sub-inflation pay settlements, and moves by the firm to lower the value of redundancy payouts.

Unite, which told Motortransport.co.uk more than 120 staff had taken part in the ballot, said its members would be “deciding in the next few days what form the strike action may take”.

“Our members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action which shows the depth of anger at the below-inflation pay they have had to endure in recent years, which has seriously eroded their standard of living,” said Unite regional officer Mark Plumb after the ballot.

“This has been compounded by the management starting to attack their terms and conditions in regards to guaranteeed redundancy payments.

“We will be consulting our members on what form the industrial action will take in the next few days and announcing our plans accordingly,” he added.

Unite has 210 members at Indesit across 12 different sites at Andover, Barnsley, Chepstow, Gateshead, Grangemouth, Hayes, Mallusk, Trafford Park, Raunds, Sharpness, Wednesbury and West Thurrock.

A spokeman for Indesit UK said: "We are disappointed by the latest announcement from Unite and remain committed to resolving the issue, encouraging them to continue discussions with our team.”