Primark staff in Northern Ireland vote in favour of industrial action
Members of the Usdaw union employed by Primark in Northern Ireland have voted for industrial action in protest at the company’s attempt to impose a pay freeze for the second year running.
In a ballot which cloed last week members voted 93% to 7% in favour of taking the action.
Usdaw reps at the company have announced that they will meet next week to decide on the form and timing of any industrial action, which they said is likely to start sometime in February. Usdaw said it has informed Primark of the ballot result and urged the company to return to the negotiating table.
In 2010, Usdaw members accepted a pay freeze following lengthy negotiations that involved the Labour Relations Agency. In this year’s pay round, Primark has said that no pay rise will be forthcoming and talks again involving the LRA have so far failed to secure any agreement.
Nicola Scarborough, Usdaw area organiser said: “The ballot result reflects the anger our members feel at the way Primark is treating its loyal and long-serving workforce in Northern Ireland and I hope the company will now recognise this and return to the negotiating table.”
“Most of our members at Primark earn just £6.84 an hour and they are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. With prices continuing to rise and government cuts to tax credits and other benefits beginning to bite, most people simply can’t afford to accept what is effectively a pay cut for the second year running.”
