Nortel Strike As Dispute Escalates

Around 150 workers took to the picket lines outside one of the last of the Province's telecommunications electronics manufacturing facilities this week.

Staff at Nortel at Monkstown have walked out on strike over wages.

Trade union Unite's Regional Organiser, Terry Collins said that Nortel was likely to be one of a kind.

"In the companies that I represent in the manufacturing sphere, most of the pay negotiations have been concluded and successfully concluded," said Mr Collins, who noted that the Nortel dispute was long-running.

"We have been in protracted negotiations with the company in relation to this year's pay and we have had a failure to agree on the company's offer," he said.

"We have been working closely with the company over the past 18 months on 'lean manufacturing' and have made £3m in savings at the Monkstown plant. Now is the time our members are paid back for all their efforts.

"We went to a ballot and the members felt that the only alternative open to them was to take industrial action in pursuance of their claim."

The action comprises a series of half-day strikes scheduled for each Monday and involving staff testers and shopfloor workers.

The last time a dispute occurred at the telecoms manufacturing plant was 16 years ago and he said further action was the last resort of the staff.

"I don't believe that we are that far away from securing a deal but it's always the last hurdle that can bring the greatest problems," he said, positively, but also sounded a warning.

"If the membership feels that this has not had the desired effect then obviously they will make a decision as to whether they want to scale it up but that’s the last thing that either party would want," he said.

See: Jobs fears raised over Nortel sale proposals

(BMcC)