Around 50 maintenance workers set to strike at vitamin plant

GMB Scotland union members at Royal DSM are set to walk out from 6am on Tuesday.

Around 50 maintenance workers to strike at Royal DSM vitamin plant in North Dalry, Ayrshire — Industrial action: Workers at the Royal DSM plant in Dalry are set to strike. Google Maps

17th Apr 2023

Around 50 maintenance workers at an Ayrshire vitamin plant have announced strike action in a dispute over pay.

GMB Scotland union members are set to walk out from 6am on Tuesday at the Royal DSM in North Dalry.

The action is part of a dispute over incentive, or bonus, payments detailed in national pay agreements for engineering and construction workers.

It comes after two contractors, Altrad Babcock and Kaefer, failed to enter negotiations over the £2.37 an hour bonus payments.

The factory, which manufactures a range of vitamins for humans and animals, employs over 400 staff and uses around 150 to 200 contractors.

The action comes months after former first minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the DSM site to break ground in the new multi-million pound facility, which was supported by Scottish Enterprise.

The facility expansion is for the manufacture of a methane-reducing feed additive for cattle to help curb methane emissions.

GMB Scotland organiser Dominic Pritchard said: “This is not a dispute we want to have and this is not an industrial action we want to take. It is a last resort and one our members have been driven to because of the failure of management to even discuss with our members the incentive bonus payments due them.

“We hope they review their current position and allow negotiations to begin.”

STV News has contacted contractors Altrad Babcock and Kaefer for comment.