Cement supplier faces driver strikes
A cement supplier is facing strikes after a ballot was launched by HGV drivers supplying depots in six sites.
Drivers at Cemex UK’s operations in Barton-on-Humber, as well as Rugby, Warwickshire, Tilbury, Essex and Newport in South Wales are set to strike, are headed for a strike which would disrupt supplies heading to Heathrow and infrastructure projects including the Mersey Gateway.
The 74 HGV drivers and their union Unite are calling for a better pay deal.
The ballot, which runs until Thursday 4 May, comes after the drivers rejected the company’s pay offer which amounted to a pay cut in real terms. Cemex had offered the drivers a 1.6 per cent increase in pay and allowances backdated to 1 July 2016.
Adrian Jones, Unite national officer for road transport, said: “Members are simply not going to accept a pay offer which in real terms sees their pay fall.
“Cemex should be investing in its hardworking and dedicated workforce with a pay offer that properly reflects the important contribution our members make to the business.
“It is imperative that Cemex understands the determination of our members and produces a much improved offer to avert the need for industrial action.
“If industrial action does occur, then it will severely affect large sections of the construction industry creating shortages of building materials for key construction projects and cause serious delays.”
A spokesperson from Cemex said: “CEMEX UK very much regrets that UNITE has called a ballot of HGV cement tanker drivers delivering bulk cement, based at a number of our cement supply depots, seeking approval for industrial action.
“CEMEX UK has a robust contingency in place should our HGV cement tanker drivers resort to any industrial action, and we will ensure a continued supply of bulk cement to all of our customers. Supply of all other CEMEX UK products is not affected by this ballot.
“The offer made to our HGV cement tanker drivers, representing fewer than two and a half percent of the CEMEX UK workforce, is the same as that already in place for the rest of our 3,000 UK employees and relates to the pay increase awarded for last year (2016). CEMEX UK always seeks to proactively engage with all our drivers and UNITE.”
