Stanlow workers accept employers’ improved bonuses offer

Construction workers at the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire have secured a major increase in bonus payments following industrial action.

The deal covers more than 450 construction workers operating under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), who work for several different contractors at the site.

Strike action was due to begin on Tuesday, July 18, but was swiftly called off after employers agreed to fresh talks on the bonus rate.

Following these negotiations, the hourly bonus rate was increased from 80p an hour to the maximum £2.37 an hour, an increase in bonus payments of just under 300%.

Unite the Union general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “This is an excellent result which was achieved by workers coming together and maintaining a unified front.

“Unite had been clear from the outset that the employers and the client could fully afford to increase the bonus payment and that proved to be entirely the case.”

The Stanlow dispute over bonus rates is the latest affecting workers covered by the NAECI agreement, who have taken industrial action at sites throughout the UK.

Workers have been campaigning to increase pay to offset the impact of inflation, following the refusal of employers nationally to increase basic wage rates.

Unite regional officer, Lee Brennan, said: “This pay victory could not have been achieved without the hard work and commitment of Unite’s stewards and reps who despite working for different employers were able to come together in unity. This forced the employers to return to the negotiating table and make a vastly improved offer.”

The GMB union was also involved in the dispute.