STRIKE VISTA THERM CRAIGAVON

Union officials speak about strike action taken by members at Vista Therm in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Transcript

00:00 Tell me what's happening here today and what are the workers here on strike for?

00:06 So our members behind us at Vistatherm in Craigavon have entered their second week of strike action.

00:14 This is strike action not just for pay but for respect.

00:18 It's been astonishing the lack of reaction from the company to this.

00:25 They're not engaging with Unite the Union.

00:27 When our members put in an entirely reasonable pay claim for a cost of living pay increase,

00:33 the company simply informed us that they didn't recognise the union and they weren't going to talk to us.

00:38 Our members are demanding an inflationary pay increase.

00:41 That's more than reasonable.

00:43 Instead this company has been retaliating with suspension of an elected shop steward

00:48 and is now targeting workers with disciplinary action,

00:51 including some Ukrainian refugees that have come over here to build a new life and start working here.

00:56 They're now being targeted by this company for enforcing their rights to come out and strike for a decent pay increase.

01:03 Like Neil said, it's about dignity and respect in the workplace.

01:07 They've worked in an extremely oppressive environment.

01:09 This is 95% Polish workers in this factory, the other 5% being made up predominantly of Ukrainian and local labour.

01:16 The treatment of workers here, as Neil suggested, is absolutely disgusting.

01:21 Workers have worked in fear for a long time within this factory.

01:24 But you can see here they're out on strike, they've had enough, they are solid and strong on this picket line

01:29 and they will continue to be.

01:31 Just to give you an idea of that.

01:32 Is everybody solid and strong? Yes!

01:35 You can see there, 100%, this fight will continue

01:39 and we will not stop until this company get round the negotiating table,

01:43 sit down with their union unite and they begin to discuss not only the issues,

01:47 but the issues around pay, the treatment of staff and also recognise their union.

01:53 One, two, three, go!

01:58 [shouting]

02:02 Go!

02:03 [shouting]

02:06 [shouting]