MINI plant warehouse workers to strike

Strikes by warehouse workers based at Oxford’s MINI plant will resume after a pay offer was overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce, Unite, said today.

The members voted by 91 per cent to reject the offer on a ballot with a 98 per cent turnout because it failed to address low wages across the company.

Industrial action had been postponed while the offer was voted on, however strikes by the 200 workers will now take place on May 10, 12, 17 and 19.

The workers, made up of warehouse staff and shunter drivers, handle components for BMW and the strikes will significantly impact production at the Mini plant.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Our Rudolph & Hellman members are loud and clear in their rejection of this pay offer and they have Unite’s full backing in resuming industrial action.

“It is not acceptable for BMW to be making profits off the backs of low paid supply chain workers. Rodolph & Hellman and BMW need to come back with a fresh deal that reflects our members’ rapidly rising living costs.”

Indicating the dissatisfaction among the workforce over pay rates, Unite membership at Rudolph & Hellman has increased since the dispute began.

Unite is also warning that a failure to raise pay to meet rising living costs will add to Rudolph & Hellmann’s retention and recruitment problems.

Unite regional officer Scott Kemp added, “Despite five days of talks Rudolph & Hellman has been unable or unwilling to make a significantly improved offer making strike action inevitable.”

By Barckley Sumner