Farmers face fertiliser shortage

Unite members employed by Hargreaves Industrial Services at CF Fertiliser’s Billingham factory are planning strike action over poor growth in pay despite the company making healthy profits. 

The low paid workers pack and load ammonium nitrate produced at the County Durham site for distribution to farmers across the country, ensuring that the shops are full of locally produced food. 

However workers are angry at a derisory pay offer from Hargreaves, which had a turnover of £59 million and made pre-tax profits of £2.9 million in the year ending May 2023. CF Fertiliser had a turnover of £252 million in the year ending December 2023 and made operating profits of £30 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Both Hargreaves and CF Fertiliser can fully afford to ensure these workers receive a fair pay offer. Our members at Billingham will receive Unite’s total backing during these strikes.”

The workers will take strike action from 12 to 20 September and from 28 September to 6 October, and say that industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved.

The strikes will cause severe disruption to CF Fertiliser’s Billingham operations and impact the supply of fertiliser for farmers across the country.

Fertiliser is very important to agricultural production in the UK, and with CF Fertilisers claiming that they are “the UK’s premier fertiliser manufacturer” the vital role workers at the Billingham factory should be recognised with a decent pay award. 

Unite regional officer Neil Howells said: “There is still time for industrial action to be avoided but that will require a pay offer being put forward that our members can accept.”

Former farmworker and Unite Tolpuddle Branch Chair, John Burbrdge added, “Workers only go on strike as a last resort. For years wages have failed to keep up with living costs while profits, assets and inequality have soared.”

“As for its impact – it’s a reality check for the employer, farmers and growers, the supermarkets, and the government itself that organised workers are not fooled by wage cutting through rising prices and taxes.”

“Solidarity with Billington workers and their struggle!”

By Keith Hatch