Member Article

Workers at Tyneside Safety Glass strike over "paltry" pay deal

Factory workers at Gateshead-based Tyneside Safety Glass are on strike this week over what a union has called a “paltry and insulting” pay offer.

Around 112 of the firm’s 170-strong workforce are striking for seven days, having started on Monday.

Pay negotiations between Tyneside Safety Glass and the workers’ union Unite broke down resulting in the action.

The strike is the second in four years for the firm which operates from Team Valley Industrial Estate.

Unite claim a three-year pay deal on the table - which included a three per cent rise in the first year and two per cent in two subsequent years - had features which made it self-funding.

Tyneside Safety Glass finance director, Trevor Storey, told Bdaily: “For the last few weeks we have been in negotiation with the union. There have been several offers made to employees, all of which have been rejected.

“Our focus over this period of strike action is to keep the business running as smoothly as possible. Beyond this week, we don’t know what the union intends, so we will take it from there.”

Unite allege the firm awarded its highest paid director a 14% pay rise in the last year

Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown said: “Our members rejected the paltry and insulting ‘strings attached’ deal by more than 90% as the company was giving with one hand and taking with the other.

“Our hardworking members and their families are faced with the continuing cost of living crisis, with household bills going through the roof and they deserve a more generous pay deal.

“Tyneside Safety Glass claims that it has no money for a pay rise for its employees, but it seems to have plenty of cash to give to one of its directors and to lavishly top up the owner’s trust fund.

“The management’s plea of poverty does not ring true and we urge them to get around the table urgently to negotiate a fair and equable settlement, so our members can continue to contribute to the prosperity of the company.

“The strike is solid and has been well-supported by the Tyne and Wear community.”

Tyneside Safety Glass make toughened, laminated, bullet resistant and heated glass for the automotive, security and defence sectors, rail, motorsport and architectural industries worldwide

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .