T&G to Ballot for Action at Michelin

Members of the Transport and General Worker’s Union (T&G) at Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent factory will be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay. According to the union, the action comes after a majority of members rejected the company’s December 2004 pay deal. The company has refused to alter its lump sum offer. Michelin representatives expressed their disappointment that the deal was rejected, but confirmed that they were committed to finding a solution. The company also offered the deal to workers at its Ballymena and Dundee plants.

Union members in Stoke-on-Trent rejected Michelin’s offer of a 3 per cent unconsolidated lump sum or £650 lump sum, by a majority of 69 per cent in December. Ballots at Dundee and Ballymena were tighter and Dundee’s workers have now accepted the deal, while staff at the Ballymena plant remain in discussions.

The fact that staff at the Dundee plant have accepted the deal does not have any other implications, according to T&G regional industrial organiser, Margaret Armstrong: ”We have impressed upon them that just because workers at another Michelin site have accepted the deal does not bind our members to accept as Michelin do not operate national bargaining.”

In response Michelin communications manager, Ian Hughes, stated: “We have made excellent progress towards our objective of ensuring the long term stability of operations in Stoke-on-Trent. We need to continue to demonstrate that Stoke is a site that can deliver. Restructuring to date has been aimed at ensuring the long-term future of the plant.” When asked what would happen next, the spokesman added: “We hope to resolve this by discussion.”