{"id":2177893,"date":"2026-08-24T07:58:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T06:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/?p=2177893"},"modified":"2026-08-24T12:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T11:13:19","slug":"threat-at-vital-chemical-supplies-at-lancashire-workers-to-vote-on-strike-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2177893-threat-at-vital-chemical-supplies-at-lancashire-workers-to-vote-on-strike-action","title":{"rendered":"Threat to vital chemical supplies as Lancashire workers to vote on strike action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Workers at a Lancashire chemical works are to vote for potential strike action in a dispute over pensions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly 320 chemicals workers employed by Honeywell at sites in Billingham and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and Clitheroe in Lancashire are being balloted for strikes over pensions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unite, the UK\u2019s leading union, said the workers are furious at huge reductions in their pension schemes after their former employer Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies was acquired by US conglomerate Honeywell in July.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the acquisition, the workers were told Honeywell\u2019s pension provision was \u2018broadly comparable\u2019. In fact, the union claims that many workers will see employer pension contributions drop by nine per cent. In addition, death in service cover at Honeywell is significantly lower than it was under Johnson Matthey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: \u201cThese workers were lied to, plain and simple. Honeywell is massively wealthy, retaining pension contributions at their original level will make no difference to the company. Unite will not tolerate these pension attacks \u2013 Honeywell\u2019s UK workforce has their union\u2019s total and unflinching backing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The workers include chemical, mechanical and electrical engineers, chemical process operators, scientists and analysts. They produce catalysts for the ammonia, methanol and oil and gas industries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strikes would impact BP\u2019s H2Teeside operations, Equinor and Linde\u2019s H2H Saltend operations, supplies for Shell\u2019s hydrogen purification catalysts and other catalyst technologies, thyssenkrupp Uhde\u2019s ammonia technology operations and DG Fuels and USA BioEnergy sustainable aviation fuel projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

The workers are being balloted for strike until 2 September.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unite regional officer Richard O\u2019Brien said: \u201cHoneywell\u2019s clients will not be happy that it has been running its UK catalyst operations for less than two months and they are already facing major product shortages because it is going after workers\u2019 hard earned pension contributions. There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require halting the pension attacks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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