[Northern Ireland] Sawmill workers reject ‘insulting’ pay offer and prepare to strike

Workers at Northern Ireland’s leading sawmill have overwhelmingly voted to reject what they have deemed an “insulting” pay offer.

Unite members at Enniskillen-based sawmill Balcas will start the first of three 24-hour strike actions on June 18. 

If no improved offer from Balcas management follows, the stoppage will reportedly be followed by two further one-day strikes on June 25 and July 2.

The industrial action follows workers' rejection of the 3 per cent pay increase offered by management. The strike will shut down all timber production at the site.

The latest accounts submitted for Balcas in Northern Ireland [end 2024] reveal that the company had pre-tax profits of £18.7 million on turnover of £130.8 million – a profit margin of almost 15 per cent.

Workers at the Enniskillen plant are barely paid above the minimum wage, and new starters are reportedly paid at the minimum wage.

Sharon Graham - Unite general secretary -  said, “Balcas is a highly profitable sawmill owned by Glennon Brothers. They can easily afford to pay their workers properly. A paltry increase to workers paid barely above the legal minimum is an insult. The workforce has the full support of Unite in their struggle for respect and fair pay.”

In 2019, Balcas workers went on strike for a week to end a situation which saw below-minimum-wage pay topped up with production bonuses. At that time, the workers reportedly gained a significant wage uplift. However, in the intervening years, pay increases have not kept pace with inflation or the minimum wage.

Albert Hewitt - Unite regional officer - said, “Work at Balcas is tough and dangerous, and our members have decided to go to the gate.

“Strike action will cause severe disruption to Balcas’ customers, but this dispute is entirely of its own making. Management can still avoid this strike or its escalation. They need to return to the negotiating table with a pay offer showing their workers respect.”

Unite represents more than 150 hourly-paid workers at what is Northern Ireland’s leading sawmill.

Source: Unite the Union

(Quote via original reporting)

Workers at Northern Ireland’s leading sawmill have overwhelmingly voted to reject what they have deemed an “insulting” pay offer.

Unite members at Enniskillen-based sawmill Balcas will start the first of three 24-hour strike actions on June 18. 

If no improved offer from Balcas management follows, the stoppage will reportedly be followed by two further one-day strikes on June 25 and July 2.

The industrial action follows workers' rejection of the 3 per cent pay increase offered by management. The strike will shut down all timber production at the site.

The latest accounts submitted for Balcas in Northern Ireland [end 2024] reveal that the company had pre-tax profits of £18.7 million on turnover of £130.8 million – a profit margin of almost 15 per cent.

Workers at the Enniskillen plant are barely paid above the minimum wage, and new starters are reportedly paid at the minimum wage.

Sharon Graham - Unite general secretary -  said, “Balcas is a highly profitable sawmill owned by Glennon Brothers. They can easily afford to pay their workers properly. A paltry increase to workers paid barely above the legal minimum is an insult. The workforce has the full support of Unite in their struggle for respect and fair pay.”

In 2019, Balcas workers went on strike for a week to end a situation which saw below-minimum-wage pay topped up with production bonuses. At that time, the workers reportedly gained a significant wage uplift. However, in the intervening years, pay increases have not kept pace with inflation or the minimum wage.

Albert Hewitt - Unite regional officer - said, “Work at Balcas is tough and dangerous, and our members have decided to go to the gate.

“Strike action will cause severe disruption to Balcas’ customers, but this dispute is entirely of its own making. Management can still avoid this strike or its escalation. They need to return to the negotiating table with a pay offer showing their workers respect.”

Unite represents more than 150 hourly-paid workers at what is Northern Ireland’s leading sawmill.

Source: Unite the Union

(Quote via original reporting)