Tara Mines: ‘megaphone bullying’ no substitute for collective engagement

Posted on February 14, 2024 by unitetheunion

February 14th: Trade union Unite, which represents craft and staff grades at Tara Mines, has warned Boliden that ‘megaphone bullying’ is no substitute for collective engagement.

The union’s warning follows Boliden’s chief executive officer Mikael Staffas’ statement last week that the Swedish group, which owns Tara Mine, may decide to close the mine if it does not return to profitability. Boliden suspended operations at the mine last summer and placed it in care and maintenance. To date the company has refused to set a firm date for reopening the mine, and has failed to enter into meaningful negotiations with unions on a way forward to secure Tara’s future.

Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Brian Hewitt said:

“Last week’s remarks by Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas mark a new low in the bullying approach adopted by the company since last summer.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the ongoing suspension of operations at the mine has been dictated by a desire to undermine workers’ terms and conditions, rather than any immediate external factors such as energy costs, which are falling, or the price of zinc which is projected to start rising.

“Now Boliden’s management is resorting to threats in an attempt to force workers to accept their cost-cutting agenda and tear up previously negotiated agreements surrounding redundancies.

“Despite five conciliation meetings at the Workplace Relations Commission, no negotiations have taken place. Megaphone bullying is no substitute for real collective engagement. If Boliden is really interested in securing the future of Tara mines, they need to change their approach and engage meaningfully with unions”.

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LE Pritchitt & Co Limited workers in Newtownards to strike in pay dispute 

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Strike action will paralyse production of manufacturer’s UHT milk products

Members of Unite, the union, employed at the Newtownards-based processor of UHT milk products, LE Pritchitt & Company Limited, have voted unanimously for strike action, having rejected a 6.2 per cent pay increase.  

The workers will commence strike action from 6am on Wednesday 21 February which will continue for seven days ending at 5.59am on 28 February. The planned strike action will bring production at the factory to a standstill.  

Pritchitt’s latest accounts, for the 12 months to the end of 2022, show a huge 40 per cent increase in revenues to £180.8 million from £129.3 million. Pre-tax profits at the company went up 63 per cent from £1.36 million to £2.21 million.  

Unite represents the overwhelming majority of production workers at the factory which employs approximately 200 people. The workers are seeking a vastly improved pay offer. The company is already struggling to recruit and retain new staff.  

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members at Pritchitt fully deserve a decent pay deal. This company has enjoyed a huge increase in its turnover and profitability in the last year and it can well afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase.

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Unite seeking meeting with minister for economy Conor Murphy over proposed closure of Castlereagh campus

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Unite the union NI
Kieran Ellison, Regional Officer

Loss of further education campus in East Belfast will reinforce challenges facing communities experiencing educational disadvantage

Unite the union has written to economy minister Conor Murphy to express the concerns of workers at the Castlereagh campus in East Belfast at proposals by the management of the Belfast Metropolitan College to close the facility as a cost-saving measure. 

Belfast Met currently operates four campuses; two in the city centre, at Millfield and in the Titanic quarter; the e3 campus at Springvale in West Belfast and the one at Castlereagh. The college is proposing to close the East Belfast facility to cut costs. 

In seeking an urgent meeting with the economy minister, Unite has expressed its fears that the decision appears a “fait accompli” and it would have a profound impact on the local community, pupils and staff.

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Threat to Portadown site is completely unjustified while Glen Dimplex profits and dividends soar

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Announcement of proposed closure comes as a shocking blow to workforce

Unite the union has blasted today’s announcement by Glen Dimplex of plans to close its Portadown factory. Management issued a statement indicating that work on storage and panel heaters will move to Lithuania with production at the Portadown site ceasing in 2025.

The union said shutting the site, which employs approximately 200 workers, makes no sense given the soaring profits and dividends reported by the group. The latest accounts of the Glen Dimplex Europe holding company show it paid out 3.8 million euros in dividends on 42.8 million euros of profits in the 2021-2022 financial year.

Unite regional officer Neil Moore said: “Workers were brought together to hear this morning’s announcement without any warning. Many have been employed at the site for decades and the impact on them will be devastating. Shutting this factory will strike hard at the economy throughout the Portadown area. 

“There is no possible justification for closing this site given the huge profits and bumper dividends reported by Glen Dimplex. This is a very profitable company with an expanding turnover and Portadown continues to make a huge contribution to that. From speaking to our shop stewards, it is clear the entire workforce is in shock at this announcement. Our job now is to quickly discuss this unjustified threat and our next steps in response.“

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Unite the union Registered Childminders seek urgent meeting with Robin Swann on crisis in their sector

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Registered childminders seek immediate move to increase ratios to levels already in place in England and Wales

Approximately 300 Registered Childminders have left the sector as a result of almost three years of political inaction

Unite the union Registered Childminders (RCM) branch which represents the majority of those working in the sector, an overwhelmingly female workforce – the majority of whom work from their homes, has written to incoming Health Minister Robin Swann to seek an urgent meeting. The sector has suffered high levels of attrition with approximately 300 registered childminders leaving the occupation due to financial pressures arising from ratios imposed in Northern Ireland that are much lower than those imposed in England or Wales.

In June 2021, the Unite RCM branch submitted eight recommendations to the Department of Health that were necessary to raise incomes and address the challenges facing the sector. With no Minister in post due to the extended collapse of power-sharing institutions, no decision was made and the sector has suffered a major loss of practitioners.

In England, RCMs are allowed to offer childminding services to 12 children, in Wales the ratio is 10 while in Northern Ireland the ratio is only six and this results in a sharp reduction in the potential income of childminders here.

The Chair of Unite the union’s Registered Childminders branch, Dolores McCormick said, “We congratulate and are very much looking forward to meeting the new Minister for Health Robin Swann to discuss the immediate increase in childcare ratios.

“Registered Childminders (RCMs) in Northern Ireland have waited for far too long for ratio equality with their peers in the rest of the United Kingdom. As a result, the sector is haemorrhaging. A net 300 Registered Childminders have been forced out of the sector due to continuing financial pressures and the challenges of struggling with the cost of living crisis. The demand is there, the supply is lacking – we are the supply.

“The failure to address this crisis threatens the future of the sector – which would leave parents with no other choice but to use unregistered childcare services where they will be unable to claim financial help with childcare. Registered Childminders in Northern Ireland demand Equality. At minimal cost, Minister Swann could deliver sustainability for the Registered Childminders sector. Time has stood still for far too long. We have met all political party childcare representatives and all have agreed immediate ratio change is needed, it’s now time for action.”

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