acknowledgements to Chris Cotton 7 December 2011
Unilever workers fighting an unjustified attack on their pensions will take part in their first ever strike action on Friday 9 December.
More than 2,500 workers from Unilever's sites at Purfleet, Port Sunlight, Warrington, Leeds, Crumlin, Gloucester, Manchester, Burton-on-Trent and Chester will join picket lines from 7.00 am as part of a widespread day of action to protect their pensions.
The stoppages will hit production of the global giant's leading brands, including Dove, Marmite, PG Tips, Pot Noodle and Hellman’s mayonnaise.
The stoppages will hit production of the global giant's leading brands, including Dove, Marmite, PG Tips, Pot Noodle and Hellman’s mayonnaise.
Unite, the lead union at Unilever, is furious with the company’s plans to axe the final salary pension scheme, which will see the retirement income of thousands of staff slashed by up to 40 Per cent. Unilever promised to secure the scheme for its existing members when it closed the final salary pension scheme to new entrants in 2008. Yet the company intends to push ahead with plans to close the scheme to its existing members and transfer them to an inferior career average revalued earning (CARE) scheme with effect from 1 July next year.
Unite is urging Unilever to reconsider these unjust proposals and return to negotiations with the trade unions.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “Thousands of our members will walkout on Friday to show their disgust at Unilever’s unacceptable attack on their pensions.
"Their pension fund is financially robust and yet Unilever, a highly profitable company, has shown little willingness to negotiate seriously to avert this dispute. This is a disgraceful incidence of a wealthy global company using the recession as cover to raid the pensions of the less well off.
“Unite is demanding that Unilever reconsiders its plans. The company is being driven by nothing other than wanton greed, putting its profit and shareholders first at the expense of the staff who have worked so hard to make Unilever the global money maker it is today.
"Striking workers wearing face masks of Unilever’s chief executive, Paul Polman, will be demanding ‘hand off our pensions'. Wealthy Mr Polman should reflect on what he would do if he was ‘faced’ with the pension cuts that he plans to impose.
"Unite remains ready and willing to talk at any time."
ENDS
For more information, please contact Jennie Formby on 07702 206 436 or Karen Viquerat, Unite communications officer, on 07768 931316.
Notes to editors:
Unite members will join picket lines at Unilever sites:
Purfleet Factory (Hellman’s mayo/I can’t Believe It’s not Butter)
London Road,
Purfleet,
Essex, RM19 1SD
Time:
Commencing at 19:00 hours on Thursday 8 December, 2011
Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Trafford Park Factory (PG Tips)
Trafford Park Road, Trafford Park,
Manchester, M17 1NH
Time: Commencing at 21:50 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10tDecember 2011
Port Sunlight Factory (laundry products)
Port Sunlight,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH62 4ZD
Time:
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Gloucester Factory (Wall’s ice cream)
Corinium Avenue,
Barnwood,
Gloucester, GL4 3BW
Time:
Commencing at 06:30 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 06:29 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Crumlin Factory (Pot Noodle)
Croespenmaen Industrial Estate,
Crumlin,
Gwent, NP11 3AG
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Warrington Factory (laundry products)
2 Liverpool Road,
Warrington,
Cheshire, WA5 1AA
London Road,
Purfleet,
Essex, RM19 1SD
Time:
Commencing at 19:00 hours on Thursday 8 December, 2011
Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Trafford Park Factory (PG Tips)
Trafford Park Road, Trafford Park,
Manchester, M17 1NH
Time: Commencing at 21:50 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10tDecember 2011
Port Sunlight Factory (laundry products)
Port Sunlight,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH62 4ZD
Time:
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Gloucester Factory (Wall’s ice cream)
Corinium Avenue,
Barnwood,
Gloucester, GL4 3BW
Time:
Commencing at 06:30 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 06:29 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Crumlin Factory (Pot Noodle)
Croespenmaen Industrial Estate,
Crumlin,
Gwent, NP11 3AG
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Warrington Factory (laundry products)
2 Liverpool Road,
Warrington,
Cheshire, WA5 1AA
Time:
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Burton Factory (Marmite)
Wellington Road,
Burton-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, DE14 2AB
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Norwich Factory (Colman's),
Coleman’s of Norwich,
Carrow,
Norwich, NR1 2DD
Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011
Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Burton Factory (Marmite)
Wellington Road,
Burton-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, DE14 2AB
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Norwich Factory (Colman's),
Coleman’s of Norwich,
Carrow,
Norwich, NR1 2DD
Time:
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Leeds Factory (Dove deodorant)
Coal Road,
Seacroft,
Leeds, LS14 2AR
Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Leeds Factory (Dove deodorant)
Coal Road,
Seacroft,
Leeds, LS14 2AR
Time:
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 06:69 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Port Sunlight Research & Development site
Quarry Road East
Bebington,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH63 3JW
Commencing at 07:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Concluding at 06:69 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011
Port Sunlight Research & Development site
Quarry Road East
Bebington,
Wirral,
Merseyside, CH63 3JW
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Unilever Europe IT
Unity House,
St David's Park,
Ewloe, Deeside
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Colworth Research & Development site
Colworth Science Park,
Sharnbrook,
Bedford, MK44 1LQ
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Unilever Europe IT
Unity House,
St David's Park,
Ewloe, Deeside
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
Colworth Research & Development site
Colworth Science Park,
Sharnbrook,
Bedford, MK44 1LQ
Time:
24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011
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