Workers at Glen Dimplex in Portadown have entered a second day of strike action as pressure mounts on management to return to the negotiating table amid an ongoing pay dispute.
Around 30 staff across a range of specialist roles – including maintenance, engineering, quality, administrative and supervisory positions – began two days of industrial action shortly after midnight on Monday, January 5. The strike is due to continue until 2am on Wednesday, January 7, with picket lines in place from 7am each day.
The action marks a further escalation in a long-running dispute, which previously saw workers take one day of strike action in December after rejecting what they described as inadequate pay offers.
One proposal, involving a 45p pay increase, was branded “insulting” by staff, who later voted unanimously in favour of further strike action.
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Duffy has now urged Glen Dimplex management to engage with union representatives as the dispute continues.
“Strike action is always a last resort and is not a decision taken lightly by workers,” Cllr Duffy said. “The fact that staff have been forced to take this step highlights the seriousness of their concerns, particularly at a time when families are under increasing pressure from the rising cost of living.
“I call on the management and owners of Glen Dimplex to engage constructively with workers and their union, at the negotiating table, and deliver fair pay and conditions these workers rightfully deserve.”
Workers at the Portadown site, which manufactures storage heaters, are seeking a pay rise to address what Unite has described as years of below-inflation settlements and to restore fair pay. Union recognition for staff grades at the site followed earlier successful strike action by production workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has accused the company of treating its workforce “with contempt”.
“The workers at Glen Dimplex have the full support of their union behind them,” she said. “Glen Dimplex needs to start treating its loyal workforce fairly and decently.”
Unite regional officer Neil Moore said the decision to return to the picket line was driven by management’s failure to engage meaningfully.
“Our members have returned to the picket line because of the inability of management to negotiate a resolution,” he said. “The decision-makers at Glen Dimplex need to sit down and engage with Unite to find an end to this dispute and avoid the prospect of further strike escalation.”
