Kings Lynn Cooper Roller Bearings workers to strike over pay

Profitable company offering strings attached deal that amounts to ‘pay cut’

More than 100 workers employed by Cooper Roller Bearings in Kings Lynn are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 2 August).

The workers have rejected a 5.5 per cent pay offer. With the true rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 10.7 per cent, this is a real terms pay cut.

The offer also comes with a ‘strings attached’ performance related bonus of up to six per cent.

Cooper Roller Bearings made a profit before tax of more than £7 million in the year ending 31 December 2022.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cooper Roller Bearings brings in millions and can easily improve on its strings attached offer. Unite is wholly dedicated to defending and improving its members’ jobs, pay and conditions and our members at Cooper Roller Bearings have their union’s total backing in striking for a fair pay rise.”

The workers will strike for one day on 21 August. After that a continuous overtime ban will commence, with strike days doubling every week until the dispute is resolved.

Cooper Roller Bearings produces split roller bearings, tapered roller bearings and specialised bearings used in the steel, mining, marine, power and cement industries. The strikes will severely impact production at the factory.

Unite regional officer Steve Harley said: “This disruption to Cooper Roller Bearings clients is entirely of the company’s own making. They need to return to the negotiating table with an offer that is acceptable to our members.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite senior communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.

Email: [email protected]

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.