GLASSMAKERS employed at the Pilkington factory in St Helens will take strike action over a pay dispute from this Wednesday.

Industrial action will take place from August 17 to Tuesday, August 23, said union Unite today. 

More than 170 workers, including production operators, warehouse staff, engineers and technicians, have rejected a five per cent pay offer, Unite says.

The union claims that, with the real rate of inflation (RPI) running at 11.8 per cent, the offer amounts to "a pay cut in real terms".

Pilkington, which was founded 1826, is owned by the Japan-based Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) Group.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Pilkington and NSG’s pay offer is a real terms pay cut.

"They can afford to pay these workers a decent rise. So they should pay. Our members' jobs, pay and conditions are this union's top priority, so the Pilkington workers will have the union’s full backing.”

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Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien added: “Pilkington’s offer is a pay cut disguised as a rise. Our members are struggling with rocketing prices and they have Unite’s full support in striking for a pay rise that reflects the cost of living.

"Pilkington and NSG must now put forward a pay offer our members can accept.”

GMB union members are also understood to be involved in the dispute.

Meanwhile, Pilkington says that an offer of six per cent has been made to workers, which has been turned down. 

A spokesperson for Pilkington UK said: “We’re disappointed that after negotiating in good faith with unions, they rejected the offer of a six per cent pay rise and £500 one-off payment, with a business performance related bonus of up to £1,800.

“We’d like our colleagues to consider the impact of strike action on the business at a time when energy intensive manufacturers like ourselves continue to shoulder unprecedented energy and raw material costs. We hope to continue discussions with unions with our offer still standing to avoid strike action.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work hard to minimise the impact of industrial action on our valued customers as best we can.”