Pirelli Workers to Strike

Workers at Pirelli Tyres’ operations in both Burton and Carlisle have voted to strike after rejecting the company’s final pay offer of 2.2 per cent, according to the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G). Pirelli had revised the pay deal to 2.2 per cent after workers reportedly rejected a 1.1 per cent offer. Pirelli representatives made no comment in response to the news.

482 members of the manual workforce (66.4 per cent) voted in favour of industrial action while 244 (33.6 per cent) voted against. There was a 78.2 per cent turnout. 569 union members voted in favour of action short of a strike, and 159 against. T&G represents over 900 Pirelli employees in total. The Amicus union, which represents the other unionised Pirelli UK workers (roughly 200 members) is also balloting members about industrial action T&G said.

The news that workers will strike is the latest development in an ongoing pay dispute that began in May. At that time sources within Pirelli told Tyres & Accessories: “There is no dispute, it is just the normal pay negotiations (as experienced many times in the past).”

Commenting on the news Peter Booth, T&G union national organiser for manufacturing, said: “The overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action shows the strength of feeling against the company’s 2.2 per cent final pay offer. Pirelli Tyres is one of the most profitable parts of the group, and our members clearly feel that a below inflation pay offer does not reflect their expectations, particularly with rising prices of energy.”