The members of UK’s union for shipbuilders GMB have voted to take a strike action at Cammell Laird Shipyard in dispute over pay and conditions.
A total of 500 workers will walk out at the shipyard, in Birkenhead, on January 26 and 29 if no resolution is found.
“Our members have been backed into a corner by management and they feel this is the only way to protect their livelihoods,” GMB said.
The strike is aimed at achieving a settlement to an ongoing dispute over the 2017 pay and conditions claim, which was submitted on May 8, 2017.
“We eventually received an offer June 29 which showed a complete disregard to the content of our claim,” Albie McGuigan, GMB Organiser , said.
McGuigan added that since then the members have met company representatives on numerous occasions and offered to amend their claim in various ways over a multi-year deal if they are willing to negotiate their position.
“However, it became increasingly obvious that their one and only offer was not negotiable… Therefore we had no option but to run a consultative ballot, resulting in a massive rejection,” McGuigan informed.
GMB has a further meeting arranged to seek resolution. If it proves unsuccessful, the workers will down tools on January 26 and 29 for 24-hour periods, with further dates planned in February.