- Strikes at dashboard manufacturer IAC could bring JLR
production to a halt
- 100 per cent yes for strike action on massive turnout
More than 150 workers employed at a Halewood factory producing
dashboards for JLR have voted overwhelmingly to strike over
job cuts and a 19 per cent attack on their pay, Unite, the UK’s
leading union said today.
The workers’ employer, IAC, is planning to slash 87 jobs and to
remove shift premiums and reduce working hours for remaining
staff.
The workers recorded a 100 per cent yes vote in favour of
industrial action on a turnout of over 90 per cent, underlining
the anger the workforce has for the company’s proposals.
American-owned IAC brings in billions of pounds per year. The
company recorded global revenues of £2.4 billion in 2021,
including £221 million from the
UK.
The workers are demanding that all redundancies are voluntary and
that their pay is not reduced.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “IAC is being
entirely opportunistic. Its finances are more than healthy. It is
clear these plans are an unnecessary money-grab against staff,
put forward because they mistakenly think the workforce is
vulnerable.
“Unite always defends our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and
IAC’s workers have the full support of the union in taking strike
action.”
The dates for strike action will be announced in the coming days.
Unite regional officer Mike Gaskell said: “Strikes will
undoubtedly cause disruption to JLR’s production but that is
entirely the fault of IAC for shamelessly attacking our members’
jobs and pay. The company needs to give cast iron guarantees that
any redundancies will be voluntary and take the needless
reduction in pay off the table.”
