Unilever Staff Prepare To Strike This Friday
07 Dezember 2011 - 5:32PM
Dow Jones News
Workers at consumer goods giant Unilever PLC (UL) in the U.K.
are preparing to strike for the first time on Friday in protest
against plans to scrap the company's final salary pension scheme,
U.K. trade union Unite said Wednesday.
More than 2,500 employees will walk out and mount picket lines
at sites across England including Purfleet, Port Sunlight,
Warrington, Leeds and Manchester, it said. Unilever employs around
7,000 staff in the U.K.
Unite said the strike will hit production of some of Unilever's
key personal care and food brands including Dove, Marmite and PG
Tips. The company was unavailable for comment on the logistical and
financial implications of the strike.
Last Monday, Unite said it balloted over 1,600 members across
nine Unilever factories, as well as the company's research and IT
staff. Members of unions Usdaw and GMB have also voted for strike
action, it added.
It said Unilever's plans will lead to pension losses of around
20% for the majority of its staff, but some individuals will lose
up to 40% of their retirement income.
Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch maker of Ben & Jerry's ice cream,
Knorr soup and Bertolli olive oil spreads as well as a variety
household cleaning products, said the changes are necessary and
final salary pensions are no longer a viable option for the
company.
In April it said it was closing the final salary pension plan to
existing employees from July 2012. The revised scheme is based on
career average salaries and contributions, similar to those offered
to new employees since 2008.
Following consultation with employees earlier this year, it has
made three improvements and several enhancements to its original
proposal, the company added.
At 1551 GMT, Unilever shares were trading down 7 pence, or 0.3%,
at 2117 pence, in a lower London market.
-By Simon Zekaria, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 207 842-9410;
simon.zekaria@dowjones.com
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