One hundred days of winning for workers
Since taking office at the end of August 2021, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has led our union to deliver some incredible wins for our members. UNITElive brings you some of the best
Reading time: 5 min
AUGUST
Kaefer pay boost
One hundred Kaefer workers at naval bases win 5.5 per cent plus increased holiday entitlement of two days within six months
SEPTEMBER
Refuse workers refuse ‘worst pay rates’
London Borough of Bexley refuse workers move off ‘worst pay rates’ – with the lowest paid workers winning a massive 11 per cent pay rise (£11.50 an hour)
Massive result
Over 90 Argos lorry drivers based at the Heywood depot in the North West see their basic rate of pay increase by an incredible 31 per cent – meaning annual earnings increase from £26,699 to £35,100.
OCTOBER
Two-tier workforce woe ends
In Wigan the two-tier workforce at hauliers Wincanton ends for those working on its Heinz distribution contract. Workers also secure major pay increases of between 25–36 per cent, an additional five days’ annual holidays and sick pay of six months’ full pay, six months’ half pay.
Over £2k a year more
A 6.2 per cent pay rise for 200 Dartford DHL lorry drivers on the Sainsbury’s contract, means at least £2,200 a year more.
GXO staff secure up to 23 per cent
GXO drivers and warehouse workers secure up to 23 per cent pay increase for drivers and up to 10 per cent for warehouse staff. There are 300 staff affected in total.
Tram staff seal deal
Over 300 tram drivers and supervisors at Manchester Metrolink seal two year pay deal worth 6 per cent backdated to January 2021.
Drivers 10 per cent
Around 1,000 Co-op HGV drivers win 10 per cent increase (5 per cent backdated to 1 February 2021 plus 5 per cent from 1 November 2021).
Drivers cement deal
Over 200 drivers for construction and cement firm Hanson will get a 6 per cent rise (2.75 per cent increase backdated to 1 January 2021, 3.25 per cent increase paid from 1 January 2022).
Unite recognition win
Unite recognition is a gateway to better pay and conditions so we’re pleased to report a new trade union recognition to negotiate pay and conditions at TWI Cambridge, an engineering firm.
Tanker driver result
Unite secures a 17.5 per cent for Liverpool tanker drivers employed by Turners of Soham, backdated to April 2021, plus a 4.55 per cent increase for paid meal breaks.
XPO exceptional win
XPO drivers receive a 20 per cent increase.
Painters’ wage boost
Scottish apprentice painters and decorators receive a wage boost of 8.5 per cent.
NOVEMBER 2021
Plastics plant pay win
Nearly 150 workers at Wigan’s Alpla plastics factory seal two-year pay deal worth at least 6 per cent.
Lorry drivers land deal
Lorry drivers for Imperial Logistics (MINI contract, Oxford) land pay deal worth 27 per cent over two years, plus pay parity on the contract, unsocial hours’ payments, and a lump sum payment of £3,500.
Massive offshore win
Massive win at offshore contractors Petrofac for 100 workers worth 17 per cent on pay.
Bus win
More than 50 Loughborough Kinchbus drivers receive increases of between 5.3 per cent and 8.5 per cent.
Lorry staff land large result
Around 80 Wincanton lorry drivers on the Argos contract (at Basildon) land wage increases of 20-30 per cent thanks to Unite.
Better pay won and sick pay cuts stopped
Rates of £10.50 per hour, with back pay – and sick pay cuts averted at Stagecoach South Wales mark this as a major victory.
Bus result
Around 500 bus workers at Stagecoach Kent and Sussex, receive pay increases of between 5 and 6.5 per cent as strikes are averted.
RPI result at Ford
Ford workers receive an increase of 5.1 per cent in year one, plus year two will follow the latest retail price index (RPI).
Huge increase secured
Over 450 lorry drivers employed by Wincanton (Morrisons distribution, northern England and the Midlands) secure a huge pay increase of between 18 to 24.4 per cent.
Strike off as scaffolders win pay rise
Altrad scaffold workers at the Mitsubishi Chemicals plant, Teesside, win 10 per cent over two and a half years.
Improved deal for bus workers
Over 200 Teesside Stagecoach workers receive a minimum pay increase of 8.5 per cent.
Inflation-busting deal
Around 140 DHL Sainsbury’s drivers win 14 per cent on pay.
By UNITElive team
Find out more about the first 100 days
@unitetheunion @UniteSharon
Stay tuned to UNITElive for more on this developing story
