Shell Bacton Gas Terminal workers begin strike action

Altrad workers at the Shell Bacton Gas Terminal have today [20 October] started their strike in a row over pay.

The strike ballot, held by GMB Union, saw 100 per cent of members backing strike action on a 96 per cent turnout.

The dispute was triggered by Altrad’s offer of a one-time 4 per cent pay uplift, which is far below the two-year deal of 11.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent proposed under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).

Altrad workers on the Perenco contract at an adjacent site doing the same type of work are being paid in line with the NAECI increase following another dispute resolved by GMB.

This means workers at Shell site are now being paid less than their peers for the same work.

Strikes will take place over three weeks in total, on 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th October, and 3rd and 4th November.

Paul Block, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“Our members voted resoundingly in favour of this strike action.

“Their message is clear: they won’t stand to be paid less than they deserve or less than other workers at Bacton doing the same jobs.

“It’s time for Altrad to listen to their workers and implement the NAECI level pay increase.