PET film factory strikes confirmed at Dupont Teijin
Workers have voted to strike at Dupont Teijin Films’ (DTF) Dumfries polymer film plant, with five stoppages planned in late September.
Unite, which represents around 100 of the plant’s workers, warned that workers would down tools on 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 September for 12 hours at a time.
Since July, workers have banned overtime.
DTF, which turns over around £100m, is a major supplier of PET films to the packaging, labelling, digital printing and medical industries.
Melinex films can be used in a variety of applications, including labels, banners, and roll-up displays. Mylar is a range of packaging film that’s used for printing and metallising.
The strike represents an intensification of a wage dispute that has been running in the plant ever since the company bypassed its union to offer a 3,1% pay increase for workers in April 2023.
Andy Macfarlane, Unite industrial officer, said: “DuPont imposed a brutal wage cut on our members in April without any negotiation. Our members have no option but to take strike action, and we don’t rule out more days.
“Management have not addressed longstanding issues over different rates of pay, shift allowances, and holiday entitlements among workers.
“Unite is clear that workers in the same area who are carrying out exactly the same duties must be paid the same rate, and they must enjoy the same terms and conditions.
“This dispute is entirely of DuPont’s making, for management to resolve it they need to quickly get back round the table before this dispute escalates.”
Printweek DTF was contacted by DTF to comment.