Members
of the Transport and General Workers’ Union at Peugeot’s Ryton plant near
Coventry have voted by a 90 per cent majority to reject the company’s pay
offer.
Tony
Woodley, deputy general secretary of the T&G and chief negotiator for the
car industry, said the pay offer compares unfavourably to others in the
industry. He has urged the company to reopen negotiations and said the union
will move to a ballot of the workforce on industrial action.
"The
size of the vote for rejection is not unexpected. Peugeot’s workforce is one of
the most productive and flexible in the industry and Peugeot is one of the most
profitable car companies in the UK, yet its employees are among the lowest
paid.
"The
company’s offer falls short of those made at both Jaguar and Ford, and
demonstrates an unacceptable clawback by increasing employees’ pension
contributions.
"As
a consequence, the members have spoken and the union will be seeking authority
for an industrial action ballot. I suggest it is in the company’s interests to
reopen negotiations."
In
all, 2,245 members voted to reject the pay offer and 270 voted to accept.
The
T&G estimates the real value of the pay offer at 3-3.5 per cent in the
first year and less in year two.
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