Strike action at TMD Friction’s Hartlepool brake plant

Unite members at TMD Friction’s Hartlepool brake factory are staging strike action early in 2024 over “low levels of pay being offered by their employer”. Nearly 150 members of the Unite trade union will down tools. An initial wave of five days of action begins on Tuesday 2 January, but the union hasn’t ruled out further strikes.

The majority of the workers are metal press operators but also include other factory and production staff. TMD Friction produces after-market brake products for high street retailers and garages.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “TMD Friction owes its workers a fair pay rise in the current economic climate – it is refusing to recognise the business can’t operate without these skilled operatives. Unite will be giving our members its complete support in their fight for a decent pay rise.”

Members are angry at the low pay on offer from their employer during a cost of living crisis. Many earn £12.88 per hour and have been offered 4 per cent pay increase. According to Unite, this is in effect a real-terms pay cut, since the rate of inflation stood at nearly 9 per cent in June when the pay rise was due.

Strike action could “severely impact the supply of brake pad, discs and other brake parts to both passenger and commercial suppliers across the UK”, according to the union.

Unite regional officer Mike Routledge added: “TMD has just got new owners and we urge them to come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer. Do the right thing by your workers this Christmas and strikes can be averted.”

On 5 December TMD Friction was bought by Aequita, a privately-owned industrial group based in Munich.

Before that, on 1 December 2023, TMD Friction sold its shares in the Hella Pagid joint venture to Hella.