Hundreds of staff at a major North Yorkshire manufacturing business are expected to continue strike action in a month’s-long dispute over pay.
The long-running strike action by staff at Scarborough’s Alexander Dennis will see 400 workers walk out for almost two weeks this month as the dispute intensifies.
Workers have been striking since June over pay, and this week Unite members rejected a two-year pay offer from the company because the second year “would have left workers facing a significant real terms pay cut if inflation increases”, according to union officials.
Unite said that between August 2021 and May 2026, the Retail Prices Index (RPI) rose by approximately 35.1 per cent and, factoring in pay rises increases to date, the wages of workers had fallen 19.8 per cent behind the cost of living.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “With its latest offer, Alexander Dennis is trying to give with one hand and take away with the other. This is unacceptable. Unite is backing these workers all the way in their fight for a fair pay deal.”
Earlier this month, Alexander Dennis secured a £57 million contract to supply Liverpool City Region Combined Authority with at least 207 new low and zero-emission buses. Under the contract, the number of buses could increase to 357 with a total investment of £95 million.
A spokesperson for the company told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it did not anticipate that the strike action would impact the delivery dates required by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Fresh strike action will take place on September 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 and “industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved,” Unite warned.
A spokesperson for Alexander Dennis previously said it was “one of the top-paying employers in Scarborough” and had made “a very fair and above-inflation offer of a four per cent pay rise”.
They added: “The UK bus manufacturing sector is under intense pressure – costs are rising and half of all new buses now come from overseas. Against this backdrop, it is incredibly disappointing that our offer has been rejected.
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“We are committed to working with the union and our team members to bring this matter to a resolution.”
Unite regional officer Dan Stephens said: “Alexander Dennis’ workforce is quite clear that these strikes will not end until an acceptable deal is offered. This obviously puts the timely delivery of the 207 new buses for the Liverpool region in jeopardy.
“This dispute can end tomorrow, but only if Alexander Dennis tables a deal its workers can agree to.”
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