SHOPFITTERS are being denied a wage increase by bosses who have instead spent money on a new director and canteen improvements, it has been claimed.

About 35 workers at HMY Radford have downed tools in three-day action over pay.

The strike, which started on Wednesday, is due to end today (Friday, August 5).

The action has been brought by the Unite union, who say staff have been offered a bizarre wage increase of 25 pence an hour amid a shorter working week, which will be taken away in January when workers’ shifts will go back up to 37.5 hours.

But the company, based in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, has denied the union’s allegations, saying it is committed to supporting staff.

Bosses, who have admitted pay has been frozen due to weaker trade, added they will bolster salaries once the firm has returned to profit, revealing they have put forward numerous alternatives to the union.

The business, which employs about 150 people, also said the strike won’t affect customers, who include Tesco and Vodafone.

However, one worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Northern Echo officials have not listened to union suggestions, saying a proposal for an extended 33 pence rise was dismissed.

He said: “We’re not proud of being at the gate, but we couldn’t just sit back and drop down below minimum wage.

“We just can’t keep going on.

“We’ve never been highly-paid, but there’s always been an overtime culture.

“The lads put up with it because they knew there would be overtime.

“But (more recently) we’ve not really got any overtime and wages have dwindled.”

The man also said staff are upset at decisions to bring in a new director from outside the firm and spend cash on improvements to areas such as the canteen and offices.

He added: “The company is adamant they will not be giving a pay rise; it says it hasn’t got any money.

“This cash might be from a different pot, but the lads on the shopfloor don’t see it like that.

“They are saying, ‘can we have some?’”

Mark Sanderson, Unite regional officer, also previously claimed HMY chiefs were acting in a “bizarre and insulting” way.

However, Stuart Geekie, HMY’s managing director, denounced the allegations, 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."