Bentley car workers walk out in protest over pay and conditions
HUNDREDS of Bentley workers have demonstrated outside the firm's headquarters in protest at a proposed 4.5 per cent pay rise.
Shopfloor workers staged their 30-minute silent protest after objecting to the firm's pay offer.
They are angry that the one-year deal is linked to an increase in hours and a new rule that allows managers to give workers two hours' notice to work over if production targets are likely to be missed by the end of the regular shift.
They also claim the January rise in VAT and increased National Insurance contributions will wipe out the 4.5 per cent hike.
Some of the 3,500 workers at Crewe's Pyms Lane plant are pledging to repeat their unofficial Monday lunchtime protest every week.
One Bentley worker told The Sentinel: "They are giving us next to nothing because everything else is going up. "Morale is down very badly.
"The idea to give us two hours' notice to work over has come from Toyota. But people have families and responsibilities that they cannot just drop at short notice."
Last year Bentley introduced a staggered production shutdown, which saw workers take a 10 per cent pay cut and agree to make up their full hours once production re-started; a system known as 'hour banking'.
It was aimed at protecting jobs and skills as demand slumped during the recession.
The unnamed employee added: "The mood is very, very low, because we banked the hours the other year, but the overtime to pay them back hasn't been there."
Pay negotiations are ongoing between the transport section of the Unite trade union and the company. Yesterday's dispute was unofficial, because it was not union organised.
Mike Hawes, Bentley's worldwide public relations director, said: "We are in the middle of our pay negotiations so cannot comment on the content of them.
"We hope to have them resolved relatively soon."
Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show Bentley sold 85 cars in October, up 51.8 per cent from 56 during the same month last year.
It has sold 891 cars since January, a 30.8 per cent increase from 681 during the same period last year.
Motor industry expert David Bailey, who is a Coventry University professor, said: "This offer is roughly in line with what other companies in the automotive industry are offering their workforces.
"Whether it is reasonable depends on the measures the company took during the recession.
"Bentley is doing quite well so does not want to get bogged down in industrial disputes."
126 Comments
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by Allan Key, Crewe
Wednesday, November 24 2010, 12:51PM
“Dumbhudson - funny, but who will have the last laugh on 36 Friday mornings in 2011?”
by dumbhudson, bentleyhellhole
Tuesday, November 23 2010, 8:56PM
“f.a.o cleaner crewe ,hope you enjoyed your sunday at work,had a nice long lie in myself....”
by cleaner, crewe
Sunday, November 21 2010, 6:22AM
“Dumbhudson
Seen it all before. you are happy to have a large union membership until the vote isnt going to go the way you want it and then you want to change the goalposts to get your result.
As somebody on minimum wage, I see you as the one who is alright Jack. I am going to work now - enjoy your sunday.”
by peed off, the line
Sunday, November 21 2010, 6:03AM
“Flexi time?
EVERYONE is eligible for flexi-time read your associates handbook. You'll have to go through the same process as everyone else including line working union people who've done it previously and who are remarkably quiet about it.”
by dumbhudson, bentleyhellhole
Saturday, November 20 2010, 11:20PM
“SEPERATE BALLOT FOR UNION MEMBERS PLEASE MR TAYLOR ,NO REASON NOT TO, IS THERE?..OVER TO YOU ..........”
by OFFICE GIRL, KNUTSFORD
Saturday, November 20 2010, 11:17PM
“hi everyone ,been reading the comments and would just like to say that i and the others in our office are happy at bentley ,though we are paid 26k a yr ,we are still against the pay offer ,though we would still like to come in some mornings when we feel like it ,at around 9 ..can we keep this please?”
by dumbhudson, bentleyhellhole
Saturday, November 20 2010, 11:10PM
“f.a.o disgruntled & undervalued.too right my man ,if there was more like you ,willing to stand up for our rights,then we wouldnt be in this position,ignore the other spineless,im all right jacks ...dont forget though ,if it comes in ,exercise your right to the flexi time ,and if your a union member ,ask your official for a seperate ballot..FIGHT THE POWER!”
by dumbhudson, bentleyhellhole
Saturday, November 20 2010, 10:46PM
“to legal eagle...since you seem to be informed on the legal side of the coin,perhaps you could advise ...if the bentley vote goes through ,would the offer,ie 4.75 pr cent ,and flexi ttime ,apply to all .ie everyone eligible to vote ,seems to me that it would be illegal for bentley to allow a proportion ie office staff, to work flexi time ,whilst not allowing shop floor workers the same opportunity,despite everyone being allowed to vote on it...this sounds to me to be discrimination ,and on dodgy legal ground..advise...”
by Not working on the line, Near Crewe
Saturday, November 20 2010, 8:59PM
“4,75 is not a bad deal, yet you are protesting against something that has yes to be confirmed, bit pointless. And why are you lot so damn angry towards the office staff? the office staff as you call them, a lot of them get the same pay as you do with no chance of making any overtime, cause office staff are told to work the hours + more but for no extra pay so stop thinking you are worse off, and lets be honest, friday you lot come in, eat your brekkie and then pss about till 12 you can hardly say they work you to the bone, as for monday to thursday you clock of at 16.00 and stand about talking and drinkig coffee so don't give me that nonsense, they main problem is not office staff vs the guys on the line, it's the whole management set up at bentley, look at logistics, a level 5 manager has just made his girlfriend a level 5, his girl friend???? now you lot tell me where the fairness is in that, investors in people my rear, don't get me wrong I got a lot of time for you lot on the line, but your picking on the wrong lot here, get the office staff on your side and maybe then your in with a shot, and did anyone notice the year we all got a 10 % pay cut, Dr P went up 276.000£ in his yearly sallery? twohundredandseventysixthousandpounds. It the managers fault that morale not only on the line but everywhere is less than good, I would have used a swear word here but thought better of it”
by Anon, Stoke-on-Trent
Saturday, November 20 2010, 12:22PM
“As a fellow Bentley worker of 10 years, can I please apologise for Disgruntled & Undervalued. He is clearly a fruit loop and embarassing to the Bentley Name”