Unions ballot tyre company workers for pay strike

Trade union officials are to begin balloting workers at Pirelli Tyres today about industrial action over pay.

The Transport & General Workers Union is launching a ballot of more than 900 of its members at Pirelli who have overwhelmingly rejected a 2.2% pay offer.

Amicus, the other major trade union at Pirelli, has about 200 members at the company and is also balloting for industrial action, the T&G said.

Peter Booth, T&G national organiser for manufacturing, said: “The company should not seek to take their cost reductions out of our members’ wages. The plants need support and investment, not a pay squeeze.Ó

Pirelli plants affected by the ballot, which will end on 3 August, are in Carlisle in Cumbria, and Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.