Teesside Honeywell chemical workers to vote on strike action

Unite the Union said nearly 320 workers employed by Honeywell at sites in Billingham, Stockton and Clitheroe are being asked whether they support industrial action over changes to pension arrangements.

The dispute comes following the acquisition of Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies by US-based cooperation Honeywell in July.

According to Unite, workers were told during the takeover process that Honeywell’s pension provision would be “broadly comparable” to the scheme they were previously enrolled in.

However, the union claims that many employees will instead face a reduction of up to nine per cent in employer pension contributions following the takeover. However, this has not been confirmed by Honeywell.

Unite also claims that death-in-service benefits from Honeywell will be lower than with their previous employer.

The workers involved include chemical, mechanical and electrical engineers, chemical process operators, scientists and analysts.

Those voting on strike action work in catalyst production for the ammonia, methanol, oil and gas sectors – supplying products used by major industrial companies and energy projects.

Unite warned that industrial action of any kind could disrupt supplies to a number of high-profile operations, including BP’s H2Teesside project, Equinor and Linde’s H2H Saltend project, Shell’s hydrogen purification catalyst operations, and sustainable aviation fuel developments.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused Honeywell of misleading workers over their pension arrangements.

She said: “Honeywell is massively wealthy; retaining pension contributions at their original level will make no difference to the company. Unite will not tolerate these pension attacks.

“Honeywell’s UK workforce has their union’s total and unflinching backing.”

Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien claimed that Honeywell is risking creating supply issues for their customers just weeks after taking over the business.

Mr O’Brien said: “Honeywell’s clients will not be happy that it has been running its UK catalyst operations for less than two months and they are already facing major product shortages because it is going after workers’ hard-earned pension contributions.

“There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require halting the pension attacks.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Honeywell for comment on Unite’s claims and the proposed changes to workers’ pension arrangements.

The workers are being balloted for strike until Wednesday, September 2.