Drivers working for Castle Cement have voted to accept an improved two-year pay deal, Unite, the country’s largest union, said today (Thursday 22 February).

Unite said that its members at eight depots across the UK had voted overwhelmingly to accept the new pay package and, as a result, the strike action scheduled for 26-27 February won’t now go-ahead.

About 240 workers have accepted the overall package which will mean an increase of 3.7 per cent from 1 January this year; and for 2019, an increase which could range from 3.4 to 4.4 per cent.

Unite national officer for road transport Adrian Jones said: “After intense negotiations with the management, we were able to put a new and improved offer to our members which they overwhelmingly voted to accept.

“I would like to pay tribute to the solidarity our members have shown during this dispute, without which we would not have achieved this pay victory.

“The strike action due next week is now suspended and we wish to work constructively with the company going forward.”

The depots are at: Avonmouth, Bellshill (North Lanarkshire), Birmingham, Clitheroe (Lancashire), Kings Cross (London), Middlesbrough, Mold (north Wales) and Stamford (Lincolnshire).

Castle Cement delivers bulk and ready-packed cement to customers across the UK. The company is part of the Hanson HeidelbergCement Group.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on:  020 3371 2065. Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org 

• Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.