Newry building supplies firm Haldane Fisher has publicly challenged what it says are “inaccurate” claims surrounding ongoing industrial action at its Carnbane site.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, the company said it wanted “to correct several inaccurate claims made publicly about industrial action at its Newry (Carnbane) facility, and to set out an accurate factual record.”
The dispute centres on pay and conditions for workers represented by Unite the Union, who have been engaged in industrial action at the Newry depot in recent weeks.
However, Haldane Fisher has now set out its version of events.
The company rejects claims it refused to engage with Unite, saying it in fact moved to involve the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) as soon as the outcome of the union’s ballot was known.
Unite, the firm states, “served notice of an industrial action ballot on May 6, before any discussions had taken place.”
Haldane Fisher says that after the ballot result was issued on June 3, “the company engaged the Labour Relations Agency, attended scheduled talks on June 8, and has continued discussions with colleagues’ representatives since.”
The company also disputes claims that a 2.5% pay offer was imposed on workers.
Haldane Fisher says a 2.5% group-wide increase was applied “solely to avoid financially disadvantaging the colleagues Unite represents while matters remained unresolved, a position that arose because the pay claim was submitted late.”
It adds that Unite was told in writing at the time that the matter “remained open to negotiation”.
According to the firm, a further improved offer was then put forward at the end of June.
“On June 29, company representatives met with Unite and tabled a fair, improved offer in line with the current rate of inflation. This was rejected by the union,” the statement reads.
Addressing claims that pay has lagged behind inflation, the company says it “recognises the real pressure inflation places on households”, but insists operational staff have outpaced the cost of living over recent years.
“Since 2021, Haldane Fisher operational colleagues have received cumulative pay increases 7% above inflation,” it states.
At the same time, the company warns that the wider building and construction sector is facing serious economic pressures.
“The sector has moved into a cost-of-doing-business crisis, and any settlement must be sustainable to protect jobs and colleagues’ long-term security,” it says.
Haldane Fisher also took aim at the role of elected representatives who have commented on the dispute and attended the picket line, suggesting that a public platform has so far been one‑sided.
“The company is disappointed that elected political representatives have commented publicly and, in some cases, visited the picket line without first seeking its position or establishing the facts,” the statement continues.
“A fair resolution is not helped by one side being given a public platform before the facts are established.”
A company spokesperson said Haldane Fisher remained committed to finding an agreement but emphasised that any deal must be economically viable.
“We sought independent help before any strike, we attended the table, and our door remains open,” the spokesperson said.
“Our focus is a fair resolution and the protection of jobs for all our colleagues.”
Unite the Union said: “We acknowledge the company has now said that their door remains open. Unfortunately, that is not reflected in their actions. As a union we offered to continue discussions with the company following the talks on June 29 – a request that remains unanswered.”
