Strikes over pay deal set to continue

WORKERS at Teesside's SeAH Wind factory have walked out after rejecting a pay offer. Strikes, which began on Wednesday, are set to take place every Wednesday for six weeks, the union said.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

In July, The Gazette reported how more than 150 workers at the Teesworks facility were being 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".

Workers will also begin 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.

Andrew Blunt, GMB regional organiser, said: "This dispute is not about greed, it is about respect, fairness, and valuing skilled workers in a specialist industry.

"Across the sector, good employers recognise that shift work carries a real human cost. Working nights, weekends and constantly changing body clocks impacts health, family life and overall wellbeing.