"Factory workers threaten strike action in bitter pay dispute", 20 August 2019

Workers at Dulux paint producer AkzoNobel in Stowmarket are gearing up for strike action over pay. Bosses at the...paint factory...have written to staff threatening to withdraw a 2.25% pay offer according to the Unite union...

...Unite said its members had rejected the current pay offer by a 98% majority. The union claim bosses are now threatening to withdraw the deal and withhold the backdated pay if workers do not back down before September 6...Unite regional officer Neal Evans said: "...The management's hardline attitude has been compounded by the additional threat to make the settlement available to non-union members only."...

...A spokesman for AkzoNobel said: "...we firmly believe we made a strong and reasonable offer which balances our need to be a sustainable business with a fair settlement for our colleagues."...