Co-op Coffin Makers Strike Continues In Glasgow
The Scotsman
2023-01-06
Views 18
Workers at the Co-op coffin factory have started a new round of strike action over pay, which will last at the Glasgow location until January 16 of next year.
In a dispute over salary that has lasted months, employees at the Co- op's UK coffin plant in Scotland have gone on strike once more.
The Funeralcare facility in Govan, Glasgow, reportedly started a strike on Wednesday that would last continuously until January 16. This was according to the Unite union. Since October, there have been a number of week-long strikes.
The corporation claims that its offer is reasonable and must be comparable to the proposals made to the group's 60,000 total employees, while the union claims that Co-op executives have failed to make an acceptable offer to settle the dispute.
The corporation announced that it and Unite had agreed to meet again the following week in an effort to settle the conflict.
When the disagreement might have been handled for "a fraction of this amount," according to Unite, the Funeralcare company allegedly spent more than £1 million last year purchasing coffins from outside vendors.
The Co-op refuted this, claiming that it had always purchased coffins from different vendors since it offered a much greater selection than the Govan factory could. It produces coffins of common sizes out of solid wood and veneer.
On its website, The Co-op offers 27 different types of coffins, with the cardboard coffin costing £350 and comprising image and engraved coffins as well as ones made from bamboo, willow, wool, and banana leaf. The most expensive is a "white rose casket," which costs £2,650. Prices can be requested, and customers can also design their own.
About 50 employees are taking part in the strike after their offer of a 4% salary increase for 2022 and a 5% pay increase for 2023 was refused. With an annual rate of 10.7% in November (down from 11.1% in October), inflation has reached a 40-year high.
Unite declined to disclose the amount it was seeking, but regional officer Willie Thomson said: "At this time, they have not gone close to that figure with the offer they have made."
There are 59 employees working at the factory, and some manufacturing has continued. The Co-op claimed that the strikes had no effect on the availability of coffins.
The Co-op, a company that easily has the money to raise wages, would rather spend £1 million on substitute items and let this conflict drag on for a fourth month than pay its employees appropriately, according to Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
"The members of Unite remain steadfast, and they keep demonstrating their tenacity in this struggle. The Co-management op's is obviously attempting to undermine its own devoted employees, but Unite will support our members in every step of their struggle for improved pay, working conditions, and benefits.
In a dispute over salary that has lasted months, employees at the Co- op's UK coffin plant in Scotland have gone on strike once more.
The Funeralcare facility in Govan, Glasgow, reportedly started a strike on Wednesday that would last continuously until January 16. This was according to the Unite union. Since October, there have been a number of week-long strikes.
The corporation claims that its offer is reasonable and must be comparable to the proposals made to the group's 60,000 total employees, while the union claims that Co-op executives have failed to make an acceptable offer to settle the dispute.
The corporation announced that it and Unite had agreed to meet again the following week in an effort to settle the conflict.
When the disagreement might have been handled for "a fraction of this amount," according to Unite, the Funeralcare company allegedly spent more than £1 million last year purchasing coffins from outside vendors.
The Co-op refuted this, claiming that it had always purchased coffins from different vendors since it offered a much greater selection than the Govan factory could. It produces coffins of common sizes out of solid wood and veneer.
On its website, The Co-op offers 27 different types of coffins, with the cardboard coffin costing £350 and comprising image and engraved coffins as well as ones made from bamboo, willow, wool, and banana leaf. The most expensive is a "white rose casket," which costs £2,650. Prices can be requested, and customers can also design their own.
About 50 employees are taking part in the strike after their offer of a 4% salary increase for 2022 and a 5% pay increase for 2023 was refused. With an annual rate of 10.7% in November (down from 11.1% in October), inflation has reached a 40-year high.
Unite declined to disclose the amount it was seeking, but regional officer Willie Thomson said: "At this time, they have not gone close to that figure with the offer they have made."
There are 59 employees working at the factory, and some manufacturing has continued. The Co-op claimed that the strikes had no effect on the availability of coffins.
The Co-op, a company that easily has the money to raise wages, would rather spend £1 million on substitute items and let this conflict drag on for a fourth month than pay its employees appropriately, according to Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
"The members of Unite remain steadfast, and they keep demonstrating their tenacity in this struggle. The Co-management op's is obviously attempting to undermine its own devoted employees, but Unite will support our members in every step of their struggle for improved pay, working conditions, and benefits.
Report form
