Striking workers at Lisburn firm Creative Composites agree to increased pay offer

The two year deal provides a guaranteed 13 percent pay increase to all workers – with those on lower pay grades receiving up to 17.3 percent when the offer is compounded with the minimum wage increase.

The pay increase will be backdated to the beginning of the year with workers receiving a further one-off payment of £250 at the end of the year.

The pay deal is more than double what was initially offered by the employer (4.5%) and significantly more for the lowest paid than the last ditch offer made by management ahead of strike action (a two-year deal worth 12%).

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham congratulated the workers on the successful end to their strike action.

“Yet again we see that workers can win significantly improved pay increases through collective organisation and action,” she said.

"The workers of Creative Composites have more than doubled the initial offer made by their employer – and secured some protection for themselves in this cost of living crisis. Question want a better deal? Answer Join Unite!”

Regional Officer Neil Moore added: “This is a huge win for these workers who voted with a more than two to one majority to accept this significantly improved offer.

"This offers real protection in the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and will see the lowest paid workers enjoy a 17.3% increase in their pay over the year.

“The workers at Creative Composites return to work today after winning this improved deal after only two days of strike action. They will return with the confidence that they can secure real improvements through their trade union.”

Workers at Creative Composites, the UK’s leading advanced production composite manufacturer based in Lisburn, had voted unanimously on a 100% turnout to take strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase.

The ballot was held after workers rejected a pay offer of a bare 4.5% tied to the increase in the bare legal minimum wage.

Unite’s membership at the factory has grown substantially since the union called a ballot on strike action and now stands at over 100 at the factory.