Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has expressed her “solidarity” with the striking workers at Haldane Fisher in Newry as they near the end of three weeks of industrial action.
The Newry and Armagh MLA recently met with members of the workforce on the picket line, where they have been maintaining a presence since they embarked upon their strike action on Wednesday, June 10.
Their trade union, Unite, ahead of the formal walk-out, said 40 of its members at the facility were taking action over what it described as an “escalating” disagreement over wages at the building and timber merchant.
Ms Kimmins has now voiced her support for those involved in the action, raising it on the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday morning.
She said: “Haldane Fisher is an institution in Newry — a leader in the building industry — to which many of the workers on the picket lines have given decades of service.
“In fact, many of those workers, some of whom have worked there for over 40 years, say that they had never had to take industrial action. That is telling about the situation that they find themselves in. They feel that they have no other choice and that industrial action is, indeed, a last resort.”
She urged senior management at Haldane Fisher to engage with Unite the Union and support the workers, and “come to a conclusion that will achieve a positive outcome for workers and the organisation”.
Added Ms Kimmins: “No one wants to be in such a situation. The workers deserve fair pay and an outcome that is proportionate to what they are facing. I say, ‘solidarity’ to the workers.
“I respect their decision to take action, but I hope that a resolution can be found as soon as possible.”
According to Unite, the strike follows a ballot in which members voted to reject a 2.5% pay increase which the union claims has been imposed by management. The union argues the rise is below inflation and does not keep pace with increases in the minimum wage.
Haldane Fisher has its own network of shops but its Newry supply store is central to its supply trade to builders’ merchants across the Republic of Ireland.
The strike, according to Unite, has severely impacted deliveries and raises the prospect of significant disruption to the construction sector – coming at a time when contractors traditionally seek to finish work before the holiday period.
The union claims management have refused to enter ‘mediated negotiations’ facilitated through the Labour Relations Agency.
And Unite has indicated that it will stand by workers until a successful conclusion is reached.
General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Haldane Fisher is a highly successful business, but its low paid workforce has seen their pay packets fall further and further behind. Meanwhile, management has ensured their pay outstripped inflation and paid dividends to shareholders that dwarfed the company’s profits.
“The workers at Haldane-Fisher have the full support of Unite for as long as it takes to secure pay justice and respect.”
