Starting today, Scaffolders and other trades at the GSK plant in Irvine employed by contractor Kaefer Limited will go on strike for a week in a dispute over bonus payments.
Around 40 workers, who are members of Unite and work in engineering construction roles, are seeking a bonus payment of £2.37 per hour, the maximum allowed under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry.
The strike is the second round of industrial action taken by the workers, who have also instituted an ongoing discontinuous overtime ban.
The strike will involve electricians, scaffolders, cable pullers, and labourers and will impact the plant’s maintenance.
“Unite stands fully behind our members taking a further round of strike action at the GSK-operated plant in Irvine,” said Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.
“Kaefer is still refusing to award our members what they are entitled to under a UK-wide agreement.”
“The new round of strike action, which will last for a week, reflects the anger and disappointment our members feel at how they are being treated,” added Unite Industrial Officer Paul Bennett.
“We are only asking for what our members are entitled to, yet Kaefer seems determined to prolong this dispute rather than work with us to resolve it.”
The disagreement over the bonus payments remains unresolved. Unite has not ruled out further strikes as the workers continue to fight for their rights.
