Strike! Strike!

Abraxaz1

Abraxaz1

Abraxaz1

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So had a nice email from my union and it looks like the first strike of the British steel industry in 35 years, we have been told we are walking out on in July and are only working to contracted hours until then.

The main reasons for the strike seem to be:
* Closure of the British steel pension.
* Company not paying back the £750m it borrowed from the fund during the recession.
* Company raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 and docking people who retire after 60 and before 65 25% of their total pension.

I am honestly striking because there is no way I can work in this manner until I'm 65, I'll die before then. The managers own pensions are being effected just ours.

Also the company is raising the targets to unattainable levels so we can never hit them.

Anyway do you guys support industrial action over this?
 
well I think not paying back a loan is out of order on the part of the company

does sound like the pension scheme is underfunded and unrealistic thus the increased retirement age - is retraining an option for you - finding another industry to go into and just getting out of this one if you're going to find yourself in a position where you're not going to be able to work till 65 because the job is too physical then it might be easier to jump to something different now rather than waiting until you get to age 60 and finding your only option is B&Q
 
Abraxaz1 said:
Anyway do you guys support industrial action over this?
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I do (quell surpise).

Get yourself along to as many union branch meetings as possible so you can keep informed, make sure you use your vote in any ballots and bear in mind that work to rule and "withdrawal of goodwill" often hurts an employer way more pure strike days, and hits your pocket less - a point you can stress at any union meetings you attend.

Good luck to you.
 
In 20 years time doubtless people will be bemoaning the fact that by then we won't have a steel industry left.

Meanwhile, other countries still do...
 
[TW]Fox;28151068 said:
In 20 years time doubtless people will be bemoaning the fact that by then we won't have a steel industry left.

Meanwhile, other countries still do...
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Why should we anyway, its infinitely cheaper just importing the stuff.

Regardless, its not an industry that will survive, its too low-key for our gilded isles.
 
Perhaps.

But I can tell you as is, I work for an engineering firm in industrial construction. Many of the contracts we've had go through over the last few years, stipulate that NO materials must be used/sourced from eastern Europe, or china/Asia.

On the topic though, surely there must be some legal recourse on the 750 million borrowed, somebody must have signed that off.
 
Borrowing the money and not paying it back is really out of order, but industrial disputes in this country rarely end well for unionised workers. Honestly I think it would be better to delay any industrial action until both sides have cooled down and had a chance to think things through. There may be a legitimate issue with the 60 years old retirement from the company's POV. The average life expectancy (outside of Scotland of course :D) is several decades above 60 nowadays, so that's a big potential problem being stored up for the pension fund.
 
I think it's more the quality of the materials.

The firms that generally stipulate this are our premium clients in the petrochemical industries, building installations in harsh environments.

Im only the painter/sprayer, but in equal term.. the paint specs I get given, are just as extreme in the quality of the materials...all PPG ect..

I don't speak to be an expert in steel, but just on the visual alone, anything we source cheap, generally is of a poor quality.

Anyhow I wish the OP and his co workers all the best, im currently painting up a unit for his place in bridgend:o
 
lokiss said:
I think it's more the quality of the materials.

The firms that generally stipulate this are our premium clients in the petrochemical industries, building installations in harsh environments.

Im only the painter/sprayer, but in equal term.. the paint specs I get given, are just as extreme in the quality of the materials...all PPG ect..

I don't speak to be an expert in steel, but just on the visual alone, anything we source cheap, generally is of a poor quality.

Anyhow I wish the OP and his co workers all the best, im currently painting up a unit for his place in bridgeend:o
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All our steel for our structures has to be sourced from UK, Sweden or Germany. Oil and Gas company.
 
Tata steel lost £400m last year, and there is a deficit of £2bn in the pension fund.

Will you be better off if they tata just give up and shut the lot?
 
If you're going to be dead if you work until 65, then there are a lot bigger issues than you simply having to work.

Of course you shouldn't be striking, this is endemic of the culture we live in nowadays. Times are changing, people shouldn't be retiring at 60 when they have 20+ years of life to lead and it's ridiculous to think that the state should support them. You want a decent pension in your later life? You pay for it.
 
Hmm according to wiki they made 5bn$ and had revenue of 100bn$

I think they could spare some cash.
 
Last person I remember borrowing from the company pension fund to support the business was Robert Maxwell. That ended well. I'm surprised it is even legal.
 
Dolph said:
Tata steel lost £400m last year, and there is a deficit of £2bn in the pension fund.

Will you be better off if they tata just give up and shut the lot?
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The loss they claim isn't actually against real figures, it is actually against the targets the top management set. The ones where we have to roll 24 hours a day 7 days a week with no stops for maintenance or incidents. The actually profit for last year is in the £100milion mark but they don't publish it.

We would be better if we had the European laws for working in heavy industry, i.e early retirement.
Its going to get to the point where people will complete work at 65 and die at 66, a steel workers life is a lot harder than most industries.
 
peterwalkley said:
Last person I remember borrowing from the company pension fund to support the business was Robert Maxwell. That ended well. I'm surprised it is even legal.
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I thought Mr "Two Jags" did more or less the same thing rather more recently, And the pension industry has never been the same since! :(
 
Ahleckz said:
If you're going to be dead if you work until 65, then there are a lot bigger issues than you simply having to work.

Of course you shouldn't be striking, this is endemic of the culture we live in nowadays. Times are changing, people shouldn't be retiring at 60 when they have 20+ years of life to lead and it's ridiculous to think that the state should support them. You want a decent pension in your later life? You pay for it.
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The problems is the average life expectancy has no bearing on some industries, steel workers have significantly lower life expectancies than other professions due to the atmosphere (full of dust), contact with chemicals ( plenty of carcinogenic substance), work is a lot harder due to size and heat of plant.

Problem is you can't expect a 65 year old to work 12 hour shifts. They will die.
 
If you think your career is going to kill you before retirement I'd suggest you take the strike day and interview for some new roles...
 
To be fair it's objectively crappy to be told you are losing benefits / perks.

However, teachers complaining at their pensions cant promptly stfu! Insano megalodon pensions.
 
haz_pro said:
If you think your career is going to kill you before retirement I'd suggest you take the strike day and interview for some new roles...
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Its not about me, its about the guys that have put 34+ years into the place and are being told they have to work another 15 for what was promised them at 60.

If they close it I will just find a job abroad, less tax better treatment and quality of life. Swansea and the vallys will become a even bigger area of depression
 
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