‘Strength and solidarity’ of members hailed

Strikes at aerospace parts firm SPS Technologies have been called off after a deal was reached to end ‘fire and rehire’ threats that would have resulted in its Leicester staff losing up to £3,000 a year, Unite said today (Monday April 12). 

Out of around 200 Unite members at SPS’s Barkby Road site, more than 90 per cent voted to accept the deal, which sees the initial reductions proposed by the company slashed by more than half. 

The new agreement covers a range of terms and conditions (T&Cs), including overtime pay, sick pay, paid breaks and shift premiums. 

SPS workers have taken more than 10 days of strike action since 12 March but will now return to work as normal.

“Striking in the midst of the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic is not an easy thing to do,” commented Unite regional officer Lakhy Mahal.

“But our members would not roll over and accept SPS’s fire and rehire demands. 

“Their strength and solidarity has resulted in a deal that protects their incomes and that allows them to return to work with their heads held high.

“Fire and rehire is a blight that is taking hold in workplaces across the country, as employers look to take advantage of the pandemic and its aftermath to target workers’ pay and T&Cs. 

“Unite is there to help fight off these attacks, but the union can only assist in workplaces where it has a membership. That’s why it’s so important that people join Unite and get their colleagues to do the same,” concluded Mahal.