300 workers employed by construction materials manufacturer Marshalls at sites across England – including St Ives in Cambridgeshire – are being balloted for strike action, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.
“The workers have rejected a ‘derisory’ pay offer of a one-off non-consolidated £700 payment for 2024,” said a spokesperson for Unite.
“Marshalls annual report for 2023 states it brought in revenues of £671.2 million and had an adjusted operating profit of £70.7 million. Chief executive Matt Pullen, who joined the company in March, is paid a salary of £580,000.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are well aware that Marshalls is a highly profitable company and will not accept its derisory pay offer. They have Unite’s full support in demanding a fair pay rise.”
The ballots for strike action at five of Marshall’s sites opened yesterday and will close on 11 November.
The sites are located in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland, Sandy in Bedfordshire, St Ives in Cambridgeshire and Ramsbottom in Lancashire.
The workers produce a range of products for use in the construction industry.
Unite national officer Jason Poulter said: “Marshalls can well afford to put forward a fair pay deal for this year. Strike action can still be avoided but that requires Marshalls to table an offer our members can accept.”
A Marshalls spokesperson said: “We are aware that Unite is in the process of balloting their members after rejecting the 2024 pay offer. We have since made an updated two-year offer. We await the outcome of the ballot and continue to work with the union to find a satisfactory resolution.”
Marshalls plc is the UK’s leading hard landscaping, building and roofing products. Locally it is based in Meadow Lane, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire.
