Strike ballot looms at Thompsons Scotland

Strike Ballot Looms At Personal Injury Giants Over Staff Pay Cut Imposition

Staff at personal injury lawyers Thompsons Scotland will undertake a ballot for strike action next week over the imposition of a below inflation 1.5 per cent pay increase for 2016/17.

Talks between GMB Scotland and senior partners at the firm have stalled, with the employer refusing to return to conciliation services at ACAS in a bid to end the stand-off despite repeated trade union requests.

The staff bargaining group, including administrators, cleaners, paralegals and solicitors outside of the firm’s senior partners, are seeking a significantly improved offer with the Retail Price Index (RPI) rising to 3.2 per cent in February.

The ballot will run from Friday 7 April until Tuesday 25 April.

GMB Scotland Organiser Karen Leonard said: “When you consider that Thompsons make great play of its radical trade union roots, you would think the least its workers would receive is a pay increase that meets the cost of living.

Our members epitomise the values of dedication, knowledge and strength that Thompson’s promote, playing a big part in helping thousands of people injured through no fault of their own - including many trade union members at work – receive the justice they deserve.

We are prepared to return to ACAS at any time but our requests for fresh conciliation talks have been repeatedly stonewalled by the firm’s partners so we have been left with little choice but to move to a formal strike ballot to defend our members’ interests.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Karen Leonard on 07718 112031 or GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Tony Dowling on 07958 477859.