Workers of Mackinnon, a knitwear manufacturing company which is a subsidiary of Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) are staging strikes over a pay dispute
Community members working for Mackinnon balloted in favour of a strike after the company refused to offer them a pay increase despite offering a 2.5% pay increase to retail staff.
'Our members have no desire to take any industrial action at all,' says Willie Patterson, regional secretary.
'However they are disgusted that a supposedly reputable company like Edinburgh Woollen Mill is acting in such a way. They are being asked to accept a pay freeze, which - when you take into account inflation, particularly increases in Council Tax - means that they would be effectively have to take a cut in income. All we want is for Edinburgh Woollen Mill to sit down and make a decent pay offer - our members aren't looking for a king's ransom.
'Our members have been forming picket lines outside the factory, 24 hrs all day and all night to prevent lorries coming and unloading.'
In April/May this year, negotiations on pay were exhausted, with Mackinnon stating that the manufacturing areas of EWM were running at a loss and therefore they could not offer any increase in pay for 2006/2007. EWM then unilaterally gave a 2.5% increase to all its employees in the retail outlets.
The strikes began at 6am on Friday 23 September when members began a mixture of industrial action including a work to rule, an overtime ban, working only to their job descriptions and refusing to supply material to be finished by sub-contractors. A 24 hour strike took place from 6am on Thursday 28 September and a further 48 hour strike commenced from 6am on Wednesday 4 October. Strikes will be continuing towards Christmas.
Adds Willie: 'We are currently striking two days per week and we will be stepping up to three days per week towards Christmas. It could be a long struggle. I'd like to offer thanks to all the branches that have sent us workers' support and money and also thank the other unions who are supporting us.'