Pay freezes have left Tata workers at just over minimum wage

Unite has served Tata Steel with notice of five more days of strike action over the coming weeks following management’s decision to cancel scheduled talks on pay differentials.

The next strike action follows a 48-hour stoppage last week and will take place from 21:59 hours tonight (26 June 2025) until 22.01 on 30^th June 2025. There will be another one-day stoppage starting 21.59 hrs on 10 July 2025, with further strike action from 21.59 on 24 July 2025 until 22.01 on 28 July.

The strike action is in addition to the continuous ban on overtime and work to rule and the discontinuous strike action as set out in Notice of Action dated 11 June 2025.

The dispute surrounds the workers’ claim for restoration of pay differentials eroded as a result of pay freezes in recent years.

Tata workers in Northern Ireland are paid at or just above the statutory minimum, earning less than workers in Britain.

Management’s last-minute decision to cancel talks scheduled for Tuesday means that the industrial action will proceed as notified. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is disgraceful that skilled workers at a highly profitable company like Tata are being paid poverty wages. Tata Steel workers in Lisburn can count on Unite’s full backing in their fight for pay decency.”

The strike action will impact on-site sheet metal and slip coil production, as well as impacting local distribution.

 Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said: “The longstanding failure by Tata’s management to address poverty pay has brought about this dispute. Their decision to postpone talks until a wider national pay deal is concluded leaves our members with no option but to take strike action.

 “If management wants to avoid further escalation and disruption they must reverse course, come to the table, and address our members’ demands.”