A strike is set to hit the huge GSK vaccines site in Barnard Castle after a deadline set by the union Unite passed wihout any progress.

Union members had voted by a large majority against a new pay offer and had told management they had 48 hours to come up with improved terms or the vote would be carried through and more than 700 staff across the Uk would strike.

That deadline passed today, and so far there has been no confirmation from either side of when the action might begin - or if there might be last-minute talks - but a response is expected early next week.

Read more: New Covid-19 vaccine showing positive results

Unite said its members at the pharmaceutical giant recorded an 86% vote in favour of industrial action in response to a “derisory” pay offer of 2.75%. 

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Never before have our members at GSK voted for strike action – their anger is a clear response to the company’s colossal corporate greed."

A spokesman for GSK disputed the 2.75% increase quoted by Unite and had told The Northern Echo: "We recognise the impact inflation rates are having on people around the country and are strongly committed to supporting the skilled people who work in GSK manufacturing.

"We have offered a 4% increase to base salary, in addition to a one-off award - equivalent to around 2% of base salary - as well as an annual bonus for 2021 which paid out above-target. We are disappointed that the Unite union has taken the decision to strike, but remain committed to working with them to find a solution.”

In total, around 3,500 people are employed at its UK Pharma manufacturing sites with the total UK employee level around 13,000.

This latest ballot with Unite members involved around 700 people in total.

In May last year, the company reported on the success of trials for a Covid booster vaccine made with Sanofi. There were strong results from a phase 2 trial and plans to move on to a larger phase 3 trial as the drugs firms try to catch up with the competition.

Sanofi and GSK were also involved in research to see whether vaccines made by different companies can be mixed in patients.

 

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