Factory workers walk out after pay offer rejected

WORKERS at Teesside's SeAH Wind factory walked out yesterday after rejecting a pay offer.

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

In July, more than 150 workers at the Teesworks facility were balloted over potential strike action.

The ballot turnout was 80.42%, with 96.49% voting in favour to strike. The GMB union said members had rejected “imposed shift allowances” and a 3.1% pay offer “that’s both below inflation and industry standards”.

Strike action began yesterday and will continue every Wednesday for six weeks, the union said.

Workers also began a continuous overtime ban after talks with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) broke down on Tuesday.

A spokesperson at SeAH Wind said the GMB's current demands were “unaffordable and unrealistic”, while refuting some statements made by the union.