Over 30 Unite members at Tarmac’s Derbyshire-based Alfreton Blocks Plant will walk out next month in a dispute over pay.
The workers include maintenance workers, quality technicians and fitters who make aerated concrete blocks for construction projects and pack them on the production line.
They have overwhelmingly voted to reject a pay offer of four per cent, which workers do not believe goes far enough to address years of low pay and the fact many of them earn just about the national minimum wage and have struggled with the increased cost of living. At other Tarmac sites, workers also get large bonuses for meeting targets which the members involved in the dispute at Alfreton Blocks Plant are not eligible for.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tarmac is an extremely rich employer who can afford to pay our hardworking members the wages they deserve.
“It is completely unacceptable that these workers are paid less than colleagues at other sites and have been left struggling with the cost of living crisis while their employer makes such large profits. Tarmac must come back with a fair pay offer and the affected members will have Unite’s full support throughout this dispute.”
Tarmac is an extremely profitable company. Last year, it was reported that Birmingham-based Tarmac saw revenues surpass £2 billion and profits increase in 2023.
Unite members will walk out on 15 and 16 September and 22 and 23 September, shutting down production and causing a backlog, after 93 per cent voted to strike.
As well as an improved pay offer, members at the Alfreton Blocks Plant have asked for an increase in the shift allowance and double time for bank holiday working. Although Tarmac has agreed to the latter, they have so far failed to negotiate with Unite on the other points.
Staff have also complained about a poor working culture at Alfreton Blocks Plant, with workers saying management don’t deal with issues that are raised while the factory has a retention problem leading to low staffing levels.
Unite regional officer Paula Stephens said: “All our members want is to be paid fairly for the job that they do but so far Tarmac has been avoiding discussions with the union. It is little wonder our members feel so disappointed in their employer’s actions.
“This will be a very disruptive strike which will completely shutdown the production line but Tarmac still has the chance to come back with an improved offer that is acceptable to our members.”
