County Durham car bearing workers in pay win

Pay strikes at car bearing manufacturers NSK Bearings and AKS Precision Ball in Peterlee, County Durham, have ended after a pay deal was reached.

Around 200 workers, members of Unite voted in favour of a deal that includes an increase in pay backdated to September 2021, as well as a further increase from June 1.

The workers’ next pay review has also been brought forward from September 1, 2023 to July 1, 2023.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Our members at NSK Bearings and ASK Precision Ball in Peterlee won this dispute by standing together.

“Fighting to defend and improve our members’ jobs, pay and conditions is Unite’s top priority. As this deal shows, workers get results when they’re in Unite.”

The workers, who comprise the entire shopfloor workforce at the two factories, both owned by NSK Europe, have taken strike action every Wednesday and Saturday since 23 March during the dispute.

Unite regional officer Nick Halton added, “This result demonstrates why workers looking to better their wages and improve their conditions should join Unite and organise their colleagues to do so as well.”

By Ryan Fletcher