Unilever workers launch rolling strikes

Submitted by Matthew on 18 January, 2012 - 1:17

Unilever workers are planning an 11-day series of rolling strikes across its 12 sites in England and Wales, beginning on Wednesday 18 January.

The company, which manufactures a wide range of leading food, cleaning and other domestic products, is closing its final-salary pension scheme despite admitting that there is no financial imperative to do so. Unilever is the third biggest consumer products company on earth, and its CEO is paid nearly 300 times that of its average employee.

These attacks will see workers’ pensions cut by an average of 20%, and could see them lose out by 40% in the worst cases.

Unilever workers took national strike action in December 2011. Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: “Last December these workers took the first ever strike action in Unilever's UK history. Instead of seeing that for the profound expression of frustration that is was, Unilever spitefully cancelled the workers' Christmas celebrations. Now, across the country people are realising how the company treats its workforce.”

The battle at Unilever is one of a number of burgeoning pensions fights in the private sector.

Workers at BMW and elsewhere could also take action soon.

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