Almost 200 workers at a Manchester flooring company have been laid off after voting to strike.

Polyflor staff face attack on workers due to take legitimate industrial strike action over pay, says GMB union.

Today, staff at Polyflor will down tools.

Ahead of the strike, all workers taking industrial action received a message from the company saying ‘process shifts for process workers continue to be suspended…please do not turn up for your shift(s) from 6am on Monday 5th September.’ 

After months of delays and several weeks of negotiations, GMB members have rejected the company’s final pay offer. 

 

Stephen Boden, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “GMB has written to the company demanding an explanation. 

“This looks like a vindictive attack on workers due to take legitimate industrial action over pay.  

“GMB members are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, all they are looking for is a fair settlement of a 10 percent – which is still below inflation. 

“Meanwhile the company dishes out £24 million to shareholders 

“GMB is encouraging bosses to get back around the table and enter meaningful negotiations to bring the dispute to a close.” 

 

Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.