By Ben Jones.
In early October, workers and Unite union members at Renold Couplings in East Cardiff, overwhelmingly voted for strike action over pay.
91% of workers at the manufacturer, which makes power transmission products, backed industrial action and began an all-out, eight week strike on October 25th. As they entered their third week of industrial action, workers pledged to strike beyond the eight weeks if necessary.
In a press release, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham explained why workers were striking:
“Our members at Renold Couplings deserve a fair pay increase after enduring years of what is, in effect, pay cuts. This is a profitable company who have a clear ability to pay…. Our members will receive the full backing of Unite during this dispute.”
At the end of the first week of strike action, workers came together for a public rally outside Cardiff Central Station, pictured above, where voice.wales spoke to several of those affected by the pay freeze.
One of them was Callum, an engineer from Cardiff.
“The gas and electricity bills are going up, and by the end of the month I find that I have nothing left,” he told voice.wales. “I’m just about managing to pay for food, but if things go up then I’ll be struggling even more.”
Also at the gathering was Alan McCarthy, a regional official for Unite, who said that Renold Coupling workers had common cause with others who were on strike as well.
“I do believe that it is in workers’ interests to strike. The crisis is affecting many workers who are being scammed by too many employers who are justifying their own payoffs, trying to make it seem like employers are the only ones affected by energy bills.”
“But the fact is, that year after year, it’s the workers who have generated the wealth for their employers – and it’s time for something to be given back to them. It’s not just one employer who is thinking like this, it’s many, all over the country, and that is why it is right to strike, to make sure that workers are getting a fair deal.”
While the company itself has reported turning a profit over the last couple of years, despite the pandemic, whereas pay has fallen relative to inflation.
Last Friday morning, at the end of their second week of continuous action, a crowd of workers met in front of the Pierhead Building to again raise awareness for their ongoing strike.
One of the unions lead negotiators told the group that their strike was having an impact and had brought the company to the negotiating table. Talks were due to be held on Wednesday 9th November.
Despite not having been paid for two weeks, Unite officer Michaela Gilroy said she was adamant that the workers were more motivated than ever to continue strike action: “Momentum is really high and they’re ready to fight all the way.” she told voice.wales .“They’re willing to do what it takes”
When asked how the public could show their support, Michaela emphasised that: “any support is vital, even something as simple as liking and sharing posts on social media.”
Darren, a machine operator at the firm, explained how the strike had so far cost the company around £500,000 – for just two weeks.
Engineer Callum said the workers knew their worth and were determined to fight for what they deserved.
“The company’s got some good contracts, they;re making a lot of money, but they’re obviously not willing to give us a piece of that pie. We want to be respected as well, we want to feel as if the work we’re doing is worth the money.
As the rally came to an end on Friday, when asked, a few of the workers said that they would be prepared to strike for “as long as it takes, even beyond the 8 weeks.”
The strike continues.
In Pictures: The Renold Coupling Strike
