STAFF at a car parts maker face losing more than £1,000 a year under changes to a bonus scheme, a union has warned.

Unite has accused Unipres of putting earnings before workers’ livelihoods in a profit-share row.

However, Sunderland-based Unipres has denounced the claims, saying its plans will secure the business’ long-term future, adding it remains one of the only companies of its stature in the region to give staff a profits bonus.

The company, known for making components for all Wearside-made Nissan cars, also says it has offered a 6.1 per cent pay award over two years, which has the potential to rise to ten per cent with profit-share support.

But Unite, which last week warned staff could strike, said Unipres is ignoring its workers’ needs, saying the business creates an atmosphere of low morale by forcing overtime upon employees.

Steve Bush, Unite regional officer, told The Northern Echo the situation wasn’t acceptable.

He said: “There is no ten per cent pay raise or even potential; this is factually incorrect.

“They are including the profit share figure, which already forms part of their wage; the profit-share is already a term that was introduced a number of years ago when the company were not making the profits they are today.

“The company is looking to remove money from the profit-share, which would lose employees 31 per cent to 48 per cent of the profit-share on the current terms.

“That is equivalent to more than £1,000 per year based on the company's own projected figures, self-financing any current offer from the company and furthermore making them a saving.

“The main issue for members is the changing of the profit share fund levels; the company is positioned to make greater profits but is not prepared to share it on the current accrual rate.

“These employees are extremely hard-working and dedicated, with the vast majority working a large amount of overtime per month, forced, due to the wording of their contract.”

Mr Bush also alleged a Unipres ballot of more than 600 staff, which he said was done without Unite recognition, returned a rejection of the proposals by nearly two votes to one, adding its use of about 350 agency staff was “unacceptable.”

However, Gary Graham, managing director at Unipres Sunderland, which employs 1,159 people, said the firm has to adapt to challenging market conditions.

Mr Graham previously said the business, which also makes parts for Honda’s Civic and Renault’s Kadjar, Espace, Scenic and Captur marques, already pays about 20 per cent more than similar local market rivals and issues a profit share above the standard level.

He said: “As a major Wearside employer and responsible business, we have a duty of care to staff to ensure it is equipped to withstand changing economic circumstances and sector fluctuations.

“However, we are a company built on people and, as such, place major value on our staff, and on rewarding them fairly for their work.

“The move to remodel the profit-share element of our current pay scheme is first and foremost to ensure the business remains healthy and we continue to provide employment to our workforce.

“The bar for the new deal has been set intentionally low, based on the delivery of a minimum of £3m profit in 2016 and £5m next year – achievable targets that historically have been met over the last ten years.

“Based on financial forecasts this will see payment of profit-share bonus made to our team, matching previous years’ payments.

“The introduction of this trigger point is not designed to withhold payment, it is simply about us protecting the long-term sustainability of the business, which is in the interests of our whole team and the next generation, who rely on prudent decisions today to ensure there are jobs tomorrow.

“We are one of the only tier one employers in the North-East to pay a profit-share to its team.

“While we appreciate the value of the scheme to staff, we must not overstretch ourselves with the global automotive manufacturing industry facing some serious challenges.”

Unipres previously installed £13m press equipment to expand production of lightweight steel components, which created about 20 jobs.