Siemens Energy has said it is “surprised” by a union’s move to ballot Siemens Gamesa staff in Hull, England, for strike action over pay.
The company told reNEWS it is currently in “ongoing negotiations with Unite”, which earlier on Friday said workers at the blade manufacturing plant are angry at a 4.5% pay offer plus an “opaque” incentive scheme.
A Siemens Energy spokesperson said: “We are in ongoing negotiations with Unite and are therefore surprised by the timing of this communication.
“We believe that negotiation is the best way to resolve any disagreement and are confident that we can reach agreement before any further action is taken.”
Unite said since 2018, wages at the factory on the banks of the Humber estuary have dropped by 11.9% in real terms. This is due to below RPI inflation pay rises and the suppression of wages through a performance related bonus scheme, it added.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Siemens is a colossally profitable company, yet wages at its Hull factory have fallen in real terms year on year.
“The company is using the bonus scheme to suppress wages and the workforce have had enough. Unite does not accept attacks on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Siemens’ Hull workers have their union’s total backing.”
The workers are being balloted for strike action until July 24, with strikes set to be scheduled shortly after. Industrial action will severely impact operations at the plant and would cause significant disruption to the construction of the East Anglia 3 and Moray West offshore wind farms, said Unite.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Harriet Eisner added: “Siemens Gamesa is set to cause huge disruption to its clients, which are constructing vital offshore windfarms, due to its own greed.
“There is still time to avoid industrial action, but that requires an offer from the company that is acceptable to our members.”
A Siemens Energy spokesperson said: “We are in ongoing negotiations with Unite and are therefore surprised by the timing of this communication.
“We believe that negotiation is the best way to resolve any disagreement and are confident that we can reach agreement before any further action is taken.”