Household goods manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser has defended plans to change the contracts of staff at its Derby factory saying that it will “ensure the longevity” of the site.
This week, it was revealed that some 160 staff at the firm’s Sinfin Lane plant, which makes products such as Mr Sheen and Dettol, were to be balloted for strike action by the Unite union over the proposed changes.
Unite claims that its members are being asked to work an extra 107 or 157 hours each year, depending on their contract, amounting to as much as four weeks’ work per annum.
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Under the new plans, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day will become normal working days, says Unite.
However, Reckitt Benckiser has now issued a statement, in which it claims that the changes are justified in order to ensure the future of the Derby factory.
In the statement, Reckitt Benckiser said: “Reckitt Benckiser is implementing contractual changes to radically simplify employee contracts across our site in Derby.
“The proposed changes will help Reckitt Benckiser to retain a competitive edge in today’s challenging manufacturing environment and ensure the longevity of manufacturing at our site in Derby.
“The working conditions and ongoing health and safety of our employees is of paramount importance to Reckitt Benckiser.
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“We engaged and consulted Unite in January on the contractual changes and continue to work closely with the union to support our employees, and answer any questions they may have.”
However, Unite has described the approach by bosses at Reckitt Benckiser as “heavy-handed”, arguing that imposing the new measures amounts to a detrimental change to employees’ terms and conditions.
The union has said that the firm wants to introduce the changes from August 1. The strike ballot is due to close on Thursday.