Drivers working for a Maidenhead-based cement production company are gearing up to take strike action in a dispute over pay.

Around 240 workers at Castle Cement, which is part of the Hanson HeidelbergCement Group, have voted in favour of staging industrial action later this month due to a "very unsatisfactory" two-year pay offer from their employes.

Union Unite said 89% of workers voted for strike action, with 97% voting in favour of industrial action short of a strike, as the two-year pay offer would have meant a 2% increase from 1 January this year and, for 2019, an increase on basic pay linked to the CPI (consumer price index), capped at 3%.

National Officer for Road Transport, Adrian Jones, said members regard the deal as very unsatisfactory "given the current rate of inflation and soaring cost of living".

-- Advertisement --

"The proposals also don't reflect the strong contribution that they make to the company's profitability," he said.

"Our members deliver a variety of supplies to builders and companies across the UK, including Hinkley Point and Crossrail – these deliveries will be hit by this strike action and withdrawal of goodwill at the eight depots."

The drivers will strike for one shift covering 26-27 February. In addition, drivers will also not spend overnights in their vehicles or use their cab phones between 26 February and 20 May; and they will withdraw goodwill for the same three month period i.e. no training of new or agency drivers.

The depots to be affected are at: Avonmouth, Bellshill (North Lanarkshire), Birmingham, Clitheroe (Lancashire), Kings Cross (London), Middlesbrough, Mold (north Wales) and Stamford (Lincolnshire).

Unite and the firm's management have started holding last-ditch talks in a bid to reach a settlement to avert strike action.

Mr Jones added: "We are holding crunch talks tomorrow (15 February) with the management in a bid to reach a settlement. Unite will be entering these negotiations in a constructive fashion."

(LM/MH)