| Hermann Soggeberg, chairman of Unilever’s European Works Council (UEWC) will join colleagues this week to deliver a massive signed declaration of solidarity to Unilever management at Port Sunlight demanding that the company stops its plans to scrap the UK pension scheme for its loyal 7,000-strong workforce. This declaration sends a clear message to Unilever that the UEWC will not support any proposals where employees stand to lose thousands of pounds of their retirement income, and will vigorously support UK colleagues in their campaign "Unilever, hands of our pensions" to protect their pension entitlement. Unite is urging Unilever, the global giant whose products include Persil, Flora, Marmite and Dove, to return to serious negotiations with Unite, the lead union at Unilever, together with Usdaw and GMB who also represent workers - and ensure justice for its UK workforce. Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “Unilever workers in Europe are standing in solidarity with UK colleagues who are fighting back against this unacceptable attack on our members’ pensions and demand that Unilever ends its plans to close the final salary pension scheme. “UEWC’s strong message of support is invaluable this week as UK workers prepare across 12 sites for their first ever national strike on Friday 9 December. “The solidarity statement that they will hand over to management at the historic Port Sunlight site shows that UK workers are not alone in this battle to save their pension. “Lord Leverhulme – Unilever’s founder – fought over a century ago to enhance workers’ pension rights. The action of the current board spits in the face of everything their founder stood for. Unite and the UEWC will not stand back and watch our members hard worked for pensions be reduced by this now greedy company. “Unite believes the current Unilever pension scheme is sustainable and strong, and that Unilever wants to make these changes purely to increase profits and maximise returns to shareholders and ‘fat cat’ executives. Unilever’s chief executive, Paul Polman, received shares worth Ł1,069,986 last month! “It’s not too late for Unilever to return to negotiations to give our members what they deserve and, more importantly, what Lord Leverhulme would have demanded.” Unilever plans to transfer current members to the inferior Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme that was setup in 2008 for all new starters, but which these proposals would worsen, with effect from 1 July 2012. More than 2,500 workers from Unilever's sites at Purfleet, Port Sunlight, Warrington, Leeds, Crumlin, Gloucester, Manchester, Burton-on-Trent and Chester will join picket lines from 7.00 am as part of a widespread day of action to protect their pensions. The stoppages will hit production of the global giant's leading brands, including Dove, Marmite, PG Tips, Pot Noodle and Hellman’s mayonnaise. Unite, the lead union at Unilever, is furious with the company’s plans to axe the final salary pension scheme, which will see the retirement income of thousands of staff slashed by up to 40 Per cent. Unilever promised to secure the scheme for its existing members when it closed the final salary pension scheme to new entrants in 2008. Yet the company intends to push ahead with plans to close the scheme to its existing members and transfer them to an inferior career average revalued earning (CARE) scheme with effect from 1 July next year. Unite is urging Unilever to reconsider these unjust proposals and return to negotiations with the trade unions. Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “Thousands of our members will walkout on Friday to show their disgust at Unilever’s unacceptable attack on their pensions. "Their pension fund is financially robust and yet Unilever, a highly profitable company, has shown little willingness to negotiate seriously to avert this dispute. This is a disgraceful incidence of a wealthy global company using the recession as cover to raid the pensions of the less well off. “Unite is demanding that Unilever reconsiders its plans. The company is being driven by nothing other than wanton greed, putting its profit and shareholders first at the expense of the staff who have worked so hard to make Unilever the global money maker it is today. "Striking workers wearing face masks of Unilever’s chief executive, Paul Polman, will be demanding ‘hand off our pensions'. Wealthy Mr Polman should reflect on what he would do if he was ‘faced’ with the pension cuts that he plans to impose. "Unite remains ready and willing to talk at any time." Purfleet Factory (Hellman’s mayo/I can’t Believe It’s not Butter) London Road, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1SD Time: Commencing at 19:00 hours on Thursday 8 December, 2011 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Trafford Park Factory (PG Tips) Trafford Park Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1NH Time: Commencing at 21:50 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011 Concluding at 06:59 hours on Saturday 10tDecember 2011 Port Sunlight Factory (laundry products) Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 4ZD Time: Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011 Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Gloucester Factory (Wall’s ice cream) Corinium Avenue, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3BW Time: Commencing at 06:30 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Concluding at 06:29 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Crumlin Factory (Pot Noodle) Croespenmaen Industrial Estate, Crumlin, Gwent, NP11 3AG Time: Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Warrington Factory (laundry products) 2 Liverpool Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1AA Time: Commencing at 18:00 hours on Thursday 8 December 2011 Concluding at 17:59 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Burton Factory (Marmite) Wellington Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2AB Time: Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Norwich Factory (Colman's), Coleman’s of Norwich, Carrow, Norwich, NR1 2DD Time: Commencing at 06:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Concluding at 05:59 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Leeds Factory (Dove deodorant) Coal Road, Seacroft, Leeds, LS14 2AR Time: Commencing at 07:00 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Concluding at 06:69 hours on Saturday 10 December 2011 Port Sunlight Research & Development site Quarry Road East Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3JW Time: 24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Unilever Europe IT Unity House, St David's Park, Ewloe, Deeside Time: 24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Colworth Research & Development site Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, MK44 1LQ Time: 24 hour stoppage commencing at 00:01 hours on Friday 9 December 2011 Unilever is planning a massive attack on our members’ pensions. The food and household goods giant, whose brands include PG Tips, Marmite, Pot Noodle, Dove, Comfort and Surf, plans to close it final salary pension scheme that its long-serving staff have worked hard for and break its promise to protect their pensions. They want to transfer current members to the inferior Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme from 1 January, 2012. But they also want to make more detrimental changes to the existing CARE scheme so everyone loses. Shutting down the scheme will wash the retirement plans of 5,000 workers down the drain - one worker has already estimated he will lose a massive Ł150,000 from his pension pot if he lives for just 15 years after he retires! This attack is a betrayal! Workers along with their trade unions, Unite, Usdaw and GMB are determined to fight back against this attack on their pensions. Support workers as they battle this attack on pensions that will destroy their retirements and communities. Email your message of support to workers below or send a protest letter to Unilever to demand these changes are stopped. Join our campaign– Unilever - HANDS OFF OUR PENSIONS! Email your message of support to: unileverhandsoffourpensions@unitetheunion.org Send a protest letter to Unilever to stop these pension changes - click here to download a template letter or alternatively click here to email CEO Paul Polman directly |