Following pay negotiations that started in the summer of 2015, Unite members at GE Power in Rugby balloted and voted to take part in industrial action short of a strike. This led to an overtime ban, which started on November 16 2015.
GE Power is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation equipment, including an extensive range of steam turbines.
However, another pay offer was proposed by management but it had not been reached through negotiation and was rejected by members. Therefore, Unite Legal Services was called upon to conduct another industrial action ballot, with the aim of achieving a mandate for strike action.
As the ballot was underway, another meeting with management was convened this time with the aim of reaching a negotiated settlement. The meeting led to an increase of £19 on previous offers to the base salary of 65 Unite members, with an additional option to bank hours.
Up until the additional industrial action ballot, management had refused to look at any other options apart from annual pay. By standing together, Unite members played a key role in ensuring that management had to respond and engage properly in the negotiation process.
Zoe Mayou, regional officer at Unite the Union, said: “An industrial action ballot notice was served on the employer, but as ballot forms were reaching our members, a revised offer was presented to them and accepted.
“We now have a mutual agreement which we can all move forward with and members wish to place on record thanks to Unite Legal Services who was there to support them with their industrial agenda.”
