Strike Action Starts Tomorrow Over ‘Derisory’ Pay Offer
Workers at Edinburgh biscuit manufacturer Burton’s will start the first of three 24-hour strike actions tomorrow morning (Wednesday 9 September) over the company’s refusal to improve a “derisory” pay offer.
Over 200 GMB members will take part in the action after the company failed to cooperate with union attempts to enter conciliation and negotiate improvements to the existing 1.6 per cent offer for 2020-21.
A smaller socially distanced picket line will be enforced from 6am tomorrow until 05.59 hours on Thursday morning, complying with the UK industrial action laws and Scottish Government public health guidelines on COVID-19.
An indefinite “work to rule”, including an overtime ban, started this afternoon at 14.00 hours.
GMB Scotland Organiser Benny Rankin said: “This dispute strikes at the heart of the debate around fair work and decent pay in the Scottish economy.
“The fact management claim to be shocked at our union’s claim for a rise that would put just 65 pence an hour more on the wages of the lowest paid shows you how out of touch they are.
“Burton’s somehow think it is credible to offer just 14 pence an hour more to their lowest paid:that’s derisory given many of their workers make the living wage and just over or under £10 an hour.
“After everything they have done for the business, and particularly against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, our members are ready to fight to make their work better.”
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