Perkins Engines workers demonstrate over pay

The company says there has been no disruption to production

About 300 workers at Peterborough-based Perkins Engines, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, are demonstrating after pay negotiations with the company stalled.

The workers gathered outside the firm's headquarters in Peterborough during their lunch hour yesterday and are planning to hold another lunchtime protest today.

Unite the union claims the original pay offer by the company was 0% this year and 0% in 2015, with reductions in overtime premiums, a new shift pattern that gives no premium for the early shift, and a 50% reduction in annual bonuses. The company offered a one-off payment spread over two years of £600, the union claims.

Tony Ellingford, Unite officer, said: “The business appears sound and many temporary agency workers are being taken on and directors have seen a massive increase to their pay.

“Unite is not willing to accept this situation and the membership are behind the union all the way.”

Perkins Engines told PE: "The meeting was held during a lunch break and as such, there was no disruption to production. We respect the right of employees to express their opinions. We will continue to work with Unite the Union to reach a fair pay agreement which also takes account of the needs of our customers, ensuring our leadership in a rapidly changing marketplace from this manufacturing location.”

Perkins is a supplier of off-highway diesel and gas engines. It also has manufacturing facilities at Stafford in the UK, Curtiba in Brazil and Georgia in the US.