Dispute starts at Waddington

News by

27 August 2003

Industrial action started this week at Communisis Waddington Labels plant with no sign of a breakthrough between the GPMU and management.

GPMU national officer Mike Griffiths said this weeks action would increase in frequency in the coming weeks if necessary. GPMU members at the Gateshead firm are working to rule, refusing to change shifts and stopping work for mandatory chapel meetings.

The dispute has attracted considerable media attention, notably from BBC national radio and a tabloid newspaper, after it was revealed that two Communisis directors were among the highest paid in the UK in 2002 (PrintWeek, 7 August).

This is not just about the huge salary increases that company directors got. Last year some of the lowest paid members took a 25% pay cut. We are only asking for the 2.8% National Agreement increase agreed in April, said Griffiths.

Communisis chief executive David Jones was unavailable for comment as PrintWeek went to press.

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