Press Release

Unite members at Burntisland Fabrications continue all out strike over pay parity

8 October 2008

Unite members based at Burntisland Steel Fabricators in Fife will continue all out strike action over the company’s failure to match the industry standard rate set out in the NAECI agreement.

Unite and GMB members working at the site are in their fifth week of strike action.
Burntisland Fabrications produces fabrications for the offshore oil and gas industry and renewable energy such as wind turbines.

The two unions agreed a recognition deal with the company last year and as a result of that the member’s expectations are now to be paid the appropriate rates of pay. Rab Sherry, Unite Regional Official says; "After the unions achieved recognition at the site our member’s aspirations were raised and they thought they were looking at terms and conditions that would match the rest of the oil companies across the country.

"Research shows that unionised workplaces usually enjoy wages of about 10 percent more than nonunionised workplaces. However the workforce at Burntisland is actually on 10 percent less than the national agreement."

Subcontractors working at the site have been out on unofficial strike, refusing to cross the picket line in support for the workforce. Construction sites in Scotland including Grangemouth have also been collecting money to send to the members who are on strike.