Strikes would cause shortages of vital chemicals for BP, Shell, theysenkrupp and DG Fuels

Nearly 320 chemicals workers employed by Honeywell at sites in Billingham and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and Clitheroe in Lancashire are being balloted for strikes over pensions.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are furious at huge reductions in their pension schemes after their former employer Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies was acquired by US conglomerate Honeywell in July.

During the acquisition, the workers were told Honeywell’s pension provision was ‘broadly comparable’. In fact, many workers will see employer pension contributions drop by nine per cent. In addition, death in service cover at Honeywell is significantly lower than it was under Johnson Matthey.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These workers were lied to, plain and simple. Honeywell is massively wealthy, retaining pension contributions at their original level will make no difference to the company. Unite will not tolerate these pension attacks – Honeywell’s UK workforce has their union’s total and unflinching backing.”

The workers include chemical, mechanical and electrical engineers, chemical process operators, scientists and analysts. They produce catalysts for the ammonia, methanol and oil and gas industries.

Strikes would impact BP’s H2Teeside operations, Equinor and Linde’s H2H Saltend operations, supplies for Shell’s hydrogen purification catalysts and other catalyst technologies, thyssenkrupp Uhde’s ammonia technology operations and DG Fuels and USA BioEnergy sustainable aviation fuel projects.

The workers are being balloted for strike until 2 September.

Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien said: “Honeywell’s clients will not be happy that it has been running its UK catalyst operations for less than two months and they are already facing major product shortages because it is going after workers’ hard earned pension contributions. There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require halting the pension attacks.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.