Dozens of GMB members at Acheson & Glover's (A&G) Toome are escalating industrial action
Further strike action comes after ‘fat cat’ bosses were wined and dined and a swanky awards ceremony.
The workers, who make up more than 70 per cent of the workforce at the plant producing pavers and flagstones, will begin their fifth week of strike action on Monday [9 September].
The dispute arose when staff were offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase for 2024/2025, representing a real terms pay cut with RPI inflation at 3.1 per cent.
The company announced pre-tax profits of £3.4m, while this week bosses wined and dined each other at a lavish awards ceremony.
Alan Perry, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“A&G fat cat bosses seem happy to swig champagne while their workers suffer.
“GMB met the company yesterday in good faith - a meeting facilitated by the Labour Relations Agency - only for them to bring nothing to the table that could end the dispute.
“Workers are furious - the company top brass get wined and dined at awards ceremonies last night - while people with more than 30 years service struggle to survive.
“Enough is enough; if the company is sincere in bringing this dispute to an end they need to get round the table or industrial action will continue indefinitely.”
