24 July, 2012Members of Unite the Union are fighting back against Paragon, as the leading printing company attempts to squeeze yet more profits out of its workers in Sunderland, Northeast England.
The company is in a healthy financial position, posting good profits, but seven years of austerity and a salary freeze on its workers are now being followed by further attempts to reduce their terms and conditions.
The offensive measures follow a 90 day consultation between management and workers’ reps, during which workers brought to the table creative solutions to aid cost saving at the plant. But management rejected the ideas as consultation ended on 12 July, and is now pushing ahead with plans to significantly cut overtime and shift premiums.
Particularly unacceptable is that the cuts to premiums and allowances only affect union members at the print works.
The 37 Paragon workers are fighting back in the Pallion Industrial Estate; conducting two 24-hour strikes last week and two this week, with a large picket outside the plant. The next strike picket will be Tuesday 24 July from 7am.
Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, today wrote to the company, and to Unite’s General Secretary Len McCluskey, “I strongly urge your management to immediately change attitudes that you have recently shown towards the Paragon workers at the Sunderland plant, and enter into a meaningful and constructive dialogue with our affiliate Unite the Union,” wrote Raina to Paragon.
Send protest messages to the company through Human Resources Manager, Ms. Julie Rose ([email protected]) and solidarity messages to the striking workers through Unite’s Regional Office Dave Telford ([email protected]).
Financial assistance can be sent to the strike fund, cheques payable to:
“Moore Paragon NGA Chapel Sunderland”
1 Wavenden Crescent
High Barnes
Sunderland
SR4 8LW
ENGLAND