Workers at Ideal Standard's factory in Armitage, Staffordshire, have voted to take strike action in a row over pay. According to the GMB union, 87% of its members at the Rugely ceramics factory and distribution centre voted in favour of industrial action. The union claims this comes after 'years of below-inflation pay' that it said have left employees stuggling financially.
Ideal Standard, which is being integrated as a separate part of the Villeroy & Boch Group following its acquisition in March, and Armitage Shanks are 2 of the world's best-known bathroom brands with combined history stretching back more than 300 years. The factory in Staffordshire remains the only large-scale ceramics manufacturing operation in the UK, producing millions of toilets and basins annually.
An Ideal Standard spokesperson said: "We have been informed by the GMB Union that members at our Armitage Distribution Centre & Production Facility in Staffordshire have voted to undertake industrial action.
"Our joint negotiating committee of union representatives and managers at the site are working hard to reach a resolution as swiftly as possible, finding a solution that takes into account the interests of our people as much as our current business situation.
“We would like to reassure our customers and suppliers that we are doing everything we can to minimise any potential disruption to the delivery of our products and services and will provide further updates in due course.”
