SHOPFITTERS were this morning (Wednesday, August 3) due to down tools in a three-day walkout over pay.

Staff at HMY Radford are taking strike action over what they claim is an insulting and bizarre wage offer.

More than 40 workers in the Unite union say HMY has failed to offer any pay increase for this year, claiming bosses have instead put forward a 25 pence rise, which will be taken away in 2017.

However, officials at HMY, based in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, have denied the allegations, saying they are committed to supporting staff and will bolster salaries once the company has returned to profit.

They also said they have put forward numerous alternatives to the union, adding the planned walk-out, which it says will be by a minority of staff, will not affect its customers, who include supermarket Tesco and mobile phone operator Vodafone.

But Mark Sanderson, Unite regional officer, said HMY have acted in a strange manner.

He claimed staff have been given a 25 pence an hour increase with their working week reduced by an hour until December 16, only for that rise to be removed on January 1 2017 and the working timetable increased back to 37.5 hours.

He said: “This ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ pay offer is not only bizarre, but insulting.

“I’ve never seen anything like it where an employer proposes a pay increase for fewer hours only to take it away months after and expect people to work longer for less.

“Workers are quite rightly angry at what they first thought was a mistake.

“Senior management need to get real and offer a permanent pay rise that reflects the hard work of staff who have seen their pay eroded with below inflation rises and pay freezes.

“Strike action is a last resort, but management seem intent on playing games and we urge the company to enter into meaningful talks.”

However, Stuart Geekie, HMY’s managing director, denied the suggestions officials were being deliberately mischievous, saying the business is assessing a number of options to appease unrest.

He also said the firm pays above the £7.20 National Living Wage threshold.

Mr Geekie added: “Our employees are important to us.

“While a salary freeze has been in effect since 2015, due to a downturn in trade, we are committed to increasing salaries once the company has returned to profit.

“Until that point, our priority is to ensure we are viable for the future.

“We are hoping to resolve this dispute shortly and have put forward several alternatives to a pay award for the union’s consideration.

“Our focus continues to be on a return to normality as soon as possible."