Strike action to recommence by the workforce at Vista Therm after Unite reballoted over management union-busting

Industrial action follows previous twelve-week strike for cost of living pay increase and union recognition

Unite the union has served notice on Vista Therm, a specialist glass manufacturer based at Silverwood Business Park, Craigavon that a new wave of industrial action by its members will commence with a 24-hour strike from 00.01am tomorrow, Monday [November 6^th]. Workers will be establishing pickets outside the workplace from 7am to 8.30am in the morning and between 3pm and 4.30pm in the afternoon.

The latest action occurs after the union’s membership voted with a 97 per cent majority for strike action over management union-busting activities. During the previous period of strike action, management dismissed two young workers and suspended another two, including a Unite shop steward.

The Vista Therm workforce overwhelmingly comprises foreign nationals including a large majority of workers whose first language is Polish or Ukrainian. The industrial dispute represents a touchstone case for the wider exploitation of foreign national workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Vista Therm workers are at the cutting edge of the fight to improve working conditions for foreign-national workers in Northern Ireland. The fact that this employer has engaged in brutal union-busting tactics will be challenged and defeated.

“The Vista Therm workers are to be commended for their commitment to defending their union and themselves. They can count on the full and continuing support of Unite in their fight.”

Vista Therm is owned by Carey Glass, of Nenagh Co. Tipperary, but unlike the factory in Craigavon, the parent company continues to refuse to recognise Unite.–

Unite Regional Officer Neil Moore: “Workers are questioning why it is that Vista Therm’s parent company in the south recognise the workforce’s union but, in the north, management have sought to derecognise the union and then to dismiss and suspend trade unionists and union reps in what are overt union-busting tactics.

“The Vista Therm workers are commencing a new wave of industrial action with this 24-hour strike in response to these union-busting tactics. We are demanding the reinstatement of the workers and that the trumped-up charges be dropped. This fight deserves the solidarity of every worker and anyone who cares about equality; our members are determined to win respect and basic dignity from this employer.”