DuPont staff vote for Industrial Action

Unite members showed “overwhelming support” for the dispute over pay at Dumfries’ DuPont Teijin Films.

Andy Macfarlane, Unite’s Official, said staff have not been given a pay rise for the past two years and are unhappy with the 2.5 per cent final offer for 2010/11 on the table from bosses at the multinational science company.

Union members have complained that having to forgo pay deals during the recession has left them effectively with a drop in wages and have asked for a figure above inflation.

According to Unite, when they first sought pay talks the retail price index stood at 3.7 per cent and is now at 5.2 per cent.
Initially the company offered 0.5 per cent but after negotiations this has risen to 2.5 per cent which bosses say is their final offer.

However, union members agreed to a ballot of a bargaining group of 201 employees.

On Wednesday night 80 per cent of those balloted agreed to industrial action.

“The ballot has shown overwhelming support for industrial action.”

Andy Macfarlane added: “It is unfortunate that members have felt they have no alternative but to take this form of action.
“However, we have left the door open for further negotiations should the company wish to come forward with an increased pay offer and meaningful discussions to avoid action by the workforce.”

DuPont is the largest manufacturer of PET polyester film in the world, with four sites in Europe, of which Dumfries is the largest.