8/3/2019 Unilever 16 Jan 2012

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Unilever:hads ff ur pss!

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www.scalstparty.rg.uk@Socialist_party

Unilevers attempt to scrap itsworkforces nal salary pension

scheme, which will affect 5,000workers, is being vigorously

opposed.

On 9 December, workers at eleven sites

across the country shut down production

with huge numbers taking part in the picketlines. At the Croespenmaen Pot Noodle

actory in Wales, all bar one shop oor worker

were present at the picket lines, with large

vibrant pickets taking place elsewhere in the

country.

But instead o taking the demands o workers

seriously, the company contemptuously

scrapped Christmas parties, gits and

bonuses. o rub salt into the wound, chie

executive ocer Paul Polman has awarded

himsel 1 million in company shares. Tisshows just how seriously the company really

takes its ethical principles.

Quite rightly, the response to this is urther

action to show that this contemptuous

attitude towards the workorce cannot be

tolerated. Ater the demonstration outside the

companys headquarters on 9 January, Unite,

Usdaw and GMB unions have called rolling

action rom 17 January, which will again

involve 2,500 workers at sites in Pureet,

Port Sunlight, Warrington, Leeds, Crumlin,

Gloucester, Manchester, Burton-on-rent

and Ewloe in Wales.

So ar the company has reused to meet

the unions or to go to the conciliation service

Acas. Yet the company can easily plug any gap

that may potentially exist in pension unds.

Te beginning o 2011 saw the company

declare a whopping 5.2 billion in pre-tax

prots.

Like workers in the public sector, changes

made in the recent past such as closing

the scheme to new entrants in 2008, were

supposed to ensure the schemes long-term

uture. Yet only a ew years later the Unilever

tops are coming back or more, determined to

make ordinary workers sufer in the interest

o the wealthy 1%.

Future action should be coordinated

alongside those public sector workers still

ghting to deend their pensions, including

other members o Unite in health and local

government. Unilever workers should

address meetings o public trade unions and

vice versa. Te message o the unions must be

clear: all workers deserve a decent pension,

not the misery o pensioner poverty.

6th annual National

Shop Stewards Network

Conference

Saturday 9 June

11:30 4pm

Friends Meeting House,

Euston Road, London,

NW1 2BJ

www.shopstewards.net