Partner Article

Unions urge Unilever trustees to “see sense“

Unions representing thousands of employees within Unilever UK have continued their fight over the closure of the final salary pension scheme, with a letter to pension fund trustees.

Unite, GMB and Usdaw collectively wrote to trustees, warning that employees are determined to make the company uphold its commitment to retaining the scheme, even if it means resorting to industrial action.

Strikes at the company’s UK operations in December last year hit production of major brands including Marmite, Pot Noodles and Persil.

Unilever is proposing to replace the final salary scheme with a career average scheme, which the unions claim is inferior, and would cut retirement savings by as much as 40%.

In the letter, signed by the national officers of each union, trustees are told that employees are angry, not only at the refusal to engage, but at the cancellation of Christmas celebrations.

Part of the letter states: “We are extremely concerned about the approach of Unilever senior management to this dispute in that they have rejected all offers of talks including a proposal by Acas to go to conciliation.

“As you are aware, this is the first ever national strike in Unilever’s history, and it represents an unprecedented response from employees, many of whom have decades of loyal service and in some cases, who form part of generations of people within their family who have worked for Unilever.

It goes on to say that the issue has already had a significant impact on the previously good reputation of Unilever, and refers to CEO Paul Polman’s previous talks on the importance of responsible corporate behaviour.

It finishes by saying: “We therefore very much hope that you will make the right decision and will not support the recommendations of Unilever management but instead will urge them to re-open talks in order to negotiate a settlement that is good for the workforce and good for the company.

“However, you should be aware that if the decision is to support the company’s proposals, our members have resolved to continue with their campaign using whatever means possible.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .