Waste firm staff at Cheshire's Stanlow Refinery could be set to strike
Unite is currently balloting members employed by Veolia and based at the refinery over possible industrial action
The Essar Stanlow Refinery in Ellesmere Port(Image: Essar Oil (UK))
Waste company workers based at Stanlow Refinery could be set to strike in a dispute over pay. Veolia staff, who are responsible for maintaining and operating chemical and vacuum tanks at the Ellesmere Port refinery, are currently being balloted for industrial action.
According to Unite the union, the firm is proposing a 3.5 per cent pay deal to the workforce. But with the real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at nine per cent, the union says this represents 'a substantial pay cut'.
Ballot papers have been sent out to members and voting will close on Tuesday, May 3. A vote in favour of industrial action would see strikes begin next month.
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Veolia, which is based in France, says it is working with the union as part of its 'agree dispute process' and will be meeting with them in the near future. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Veolia is an exceptionally wealthy company yet, at a time of spiralling living costs, Stanlow workers are expected to swallow a real terms pay cut. This is simply unacceptable.
"Unite will be giving our members at Veolia the union’s total support until the company makes an acceptable offer to our members and this dispute is resolved."
Stanlow Oil refinery
Unite regional officer Steven Gerrard added: “Despite repeated attempts to resolve this dispute through negotiations Veolia has refused to make an offer which meets our members’ expectations. Therefore they have no option but to ballot for industrial action."
A Veolia spokesperson said: "We are working with Unite the union in line with our agreed dispute process and will be meeting in the near future with the aim of resolving this issue in the best interests of our team."
The Stanlow site is owned and operated by Essar. CheshireLive has approached Essar for comment.
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