GSK 'sticks two fingers up' as workers vote for strike action

Pharmaceuticals giant GSK is set to face a series of walkouts throughout May, it emerged on Wednesday, as hundreds of its workers who are members of the Unite union voted for strike action over a pay dispute.

The union said 750 workers rejected GSK's offer of a 6% pay increase and a one-off lump sum of £1,300, which remained significantly below what it described as the current true inflation rate of 13.5%.

It said the workers would stage strike action at six UK sites, including Barnard Castle, Irvine, Montrose, Ware, Worthing and Ulverston, on different dates and times, in a bid to maximise the impact of the industrial action.

The workers participating would include engineers, process technicians, laboratory analysts, warehouse workers and fire officers.

“Strike action will inevitably result in widespread disruption across GSK’s operations, but the company has brought this dispute on itself,” said Unite national officer Tony Devlin.

“It has had every opportunity to make a pay offer which meets member expectations, but it has failed to do so.

“GSK has effectively stuck two fingers up to its workforce by walking away from the pay negotiations.”

Unite said the strike action came on the back of GSK’s latest operating profit announcement of £8.15b - a 26% year-on-year increase.

The company was accused of offering its workers a substantial real terms pay cut.

“This is an incredibly wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay offer,” said Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham.

“This is a classic example of a company seeking to further boost its profits at the expense of its workers.

“Unite has a laser-like focus on defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workforce at GSK will be receiving Unite’s complete support.”

At 1303 BST, shares in GSK were up 0.22% at 1,487.2p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.