Bosch Rexroth factory workers to strike over plans to ‘slash’ pay

Workers at a hydraulic equipment factory in Glenrothes have voted to strike over contract changes which would “slash” their pay, according to the Unite union.

The strike at Bosch Rexroth will start at 06:00 on 8 December and end at 05:59 on 15 December, after 95% of 280 union members backed the action.

Unite said the dispute was a result of the overwhelming rejection of the company’s proposed new contracts for the workers, which it said were “detrimental” to existing terms and conditions.

A Bosch Rexroth spokesman said the new proposals were “essential to provide the necessary flexibility to respond to market fluctuations”.

The union claims that under plans to impose short-time working – when hours are cut if there is not enough work – staff could lose up to 40% of their take-home pay, equivalent to £1,000 per month.

It also says the German-owned firm proposes to impose an annualised hours system which “could put workers up to 70 hours in debt.”

Unite said that, under this system, if a worker is paid for more hours than they have worked, an employer can recover the overpayment on a debt basis.

The union’s industrial officer George Ramsay said: “Bosch Rexroth workers have no option but to fight back because the company is trying to impose changes which will drastically slash their pay.

“Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption for the company’s clients but it has brought this on itself.”

A Bosch Rexroth spokesman told BBC Scotland they had engaged constructively with employees and union representatives.

He said the proposals aimed to maintain full employment at the Glenrothes site while facing disruptive market conditions.

He added: “We firmly believe the new proposals are essential to provide the necessary flexibility to respond to market fluctuations.

“It was disappointing that after presenting the initial proposal to employees and making significant changes, Unite still took the decision to ballot for industrial action.”