Pilks workers threaten strike action over controversial pension move (From St Helens Star)

Pilks workers threaten strike action over controversial pension move

3:58pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

WORKERS at Pilkington Glass are threatening to take strike action over what a union alleges is an "attempt to bully staff out of pensions."

Unite, Britain's biggest union, has warned NSG (Nippon Sheet Glass) owners of Pilks that its staff are ready to take strike action over a move by the company to freeze pensionable pay at the workers' salary level as of April 30, 2013.

But Unite claims this would erode the past and future benefits of all members of the scheme regardless of age or length of service.

The union says that pensionable salary will be fixed, so any increase in pay resulting from annual reviews or promotion will not be pensionable after April.

Unite also alleges that the company has written to all staff to warn them that if they don't agree to the change, then they have their pay frozen anyway by refusing to give them any kind of pay increase in the future.

Unite national officer Linda McCulloch said: "The owner of Pilkington Glass is attempting to bully staff out of their hard earned pensions. The company have refused to negotiate or explore alternatives to freezing its workers' pensionable pay.

"Staff are furious, nine in ten of them want a strike ballot and the union is taking advice from its lawyers on the legality of the company's proposals.

"Unite is going to fight the company's behaviour until managers get around the table and negotiate a sensible and fair solution."

Pilkington Glass currently employs 1,500 staff across the UK with its head office based in St Helens.