Unite wins of the year - Oxford MINI pay win

2022 has been the year of Unite wins – under general secretary Sharon Graham, Unite has had more victories in the workplace than it can count. As part of our special 12 days of Christmas series, UniteLive looks back at a handful of the many wins we’ve had in every month throughout the year.

Today, we reflect on a key win in May, when warehouse strikes at the Oxford MINI plant ended after workers employed by logistics firm Rudolph & Hellman secured a pay deal worth a massive 21 per cent over two years.

Around 225 workers, made up of warehouse staff and shunter drivers handling components for the factory, received a 19 per cent pay rise over two years.

In addition, the workers received a lump sum worth 2 per cent, bringing the total increase to 21 per cent – worth around £4,000 per year for a dayshift worker.

The deal also included increases to overtime rates and more working time protections.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This is a brilliant win for our Rudolph & Hellman members at MINI Oxford. Their determination and solidarity achieved this increase and they are now, rightly, £4,000 better off.

“This result is the latest in a number of excellent pay deals secured for Unite members. Our strategy of always prioritising the jobs, pay and conditions of workers is paying dividends.”

Since strike action began in April, Unite’s membership at Rudolph & Hellman at MINI has increased from around 150 to approximately 225.

Unite regional officer Scott Kemp commented, “The result is testament to the efforts of Unite’s Rudolph & Hellman reps and organiser Lewis Norton who have been working on this campaign for 18 months.

“Workers wanting improved pay and T&Cs are better off in Unite, which is why there was such a large increase in membership at Rudolph & Hellman over the course of the dispute.”

Speaking to UniteLive in December, Rudolph and Hellmann rep Ashley Argyle reflected on the impact of the huge win he and his colleagues secured.

“The pay increase was a fair outcome, which was long overdue,” he said. “Amid the cost of living crisis, the pay deal has gone a long way in terms of alleviating the need for many workers to seek additional or alternative work. It’s certainly improved morale. It feels fantastic to get the financial acknowledgement and appreciation for all the hard work we do.”

Stay tuned tomorrow for more Unite wins.

By UniteLive team