10:00am Friday 20th November 2009
By James Wallin
STAFF at one of Honda’s major suppliers walked out in protest at what they claim are unreasonably long hours.
Twenty-one workers at Highworth-based TS Tech, which supplies components for Honda, downed tools on Wednesday.
They claim they were told at the last minute they had to work a 12-hour shift for no extra wages.
One worker said: “It was the final straw – we have been treated with no respect and people decided they had just had enough.”
The staff who walked out have now been told they will be disciplined.
TS Tech management refused to speak to the Adver about the dispute and have not responded to representations from unions.
The walkout occurred after a 7am to 3.20pm shift when workers were allegedly told they would be expected to work an extra three hours. However, shortly before the end of the three-hour additional shift they say they were told to work 30 minutes more.
The company had a four-month shutdown during the summer, in line with Honda, meaning workers have a surplus of hours they must work for free.
John McGookin, of the Unite union, said: “Twenty one people who had already worked beyond their contracted hours because of a downturn in the company were then asked to work another 30 minutes.
“This is not overtime – the workers are not getting extra money for this time and they were not given warning in advance that this would happen.
“TS Tech do not recognise us in terms of representing the workforce but I will be seeking a meeting with them.”
The company, which employs around 300 people at its Blackworth Industrial Estate base, supplies car seats to Honda.
One worker, who has been at the company for three years, said the walkout was unavoidable.
He said: “It was already after 6pm and we had been working since 7am. We are supposed to be informed at our last break if we have to work overtime but at the last minute we were told we would have to work an extra half an hour.
“People have got families and lives and we shouldn’t be treated like that.”
The next morning the 21 workers were told disciplinary action would be taken against them.
The worker said: “We were shown a piece of paper, which no-one had ever seen before that said we would be expected to work until the managers were satisfied with what we had done.
“If they are going to introduce new legislation then it needs to be discussed with us first.
“If you think the mood is bad at Honda, it’s even worse here.”
When the Adver attempted to put the worker’s comments to the company a director refused to comment.
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