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Press Release

Unilever mind-blowing profits prove money there to keep promise on workers' pensions

2 February 2012

Commenting on the announcement this morning that Unilever, the world's third biggest consumer products company, has generated profits of almost €5 billion in the past year, Jennie Formby, Unite's national officer, said:

"These profits are mind-blowing, especially in a time of recession. This will make people stop and think twice about Unilever's attempt to claim that they cannot deliver the decent pension scheme our members have been saving for.

"Once again we are reminded that big business profiteering is simply out of control - and that the spoils are enjoyed by only a rare few at the top. Paul Polman, the CEO, takes home almost 300 times what the average Unilever worker earns. Unilever can address this grotesque disparity, starting with honouring their promises to the workers and their pensions. Workers will be rightly furious if the comparatively small sums their pensions need now disappear into the pockets and wallets of Polman and his board.

"The dazzle soon comes off today's profits when contrasted with the thousands upon thousands of messages of support we have received over the past few days for the Unilever workers. Each and every one of these supporters is a possible Unilever customer who is feeling aggrieved that the money they spend is hoarded by an elite few. This dispute is hurting Unilever's reputation.

"The company can well afford to keep its promise to workers. What they cannot afford to do is allow the public to regard them as dishonourable. Unilever management must waste no more time - sit down with us to talk about a fair solution because if you do not do so soon, you will have another strike on your hands."

Unilever workers at 12 sites across the UK have just finished 11 days of rolling strike action, hitting production of products such as Flora, Pot Noodle, Marmite and Persil. A national meeting of all shop stewards is being held in Liverpool on Saturday, February 4th to agree the next round of strike action.



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