23 March, 2006
British trade union and ICEM affiliate Amicus began strike action today at International Paper Co.’s Inverurie Mill in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Bargaining to achieve a pay increase for 231 Amicus members failed this week, and the union will go ahead with a four-hour strike beginning at 16.00 today.
“Talks broke down yesterday after the management put forward a deal we had already rejected,” said Amicus Aberdeen Branch official Willie Wallace. “There has to be an increase in the hourly rate if there is any chance of reaching an agreement.”
The US-based company proposed a pay freeze for 2006, and a small one-off payment in 2007. Workers at the paper mill have been contributing 3% of their weekly earnings for two consecutive years now in order to fill a gap in the company’s pension scheme.
Amicus Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke said industrial actions will escalate if the company does not move from its pay freeze. “Our officials and union stewards want to resolve this, but the company doesn’t seem to want to.”
Amicus union members at the mill took a vote for industrial action on 10 March that passed by a four-to-one margin. The union has reached reasonable settlements for other workers in UK’s paper industry.
The ICEM today sent a letter of support to Amicus and the Inverurie paperworkers.