Langford Lodge staff strike for first time in 65 years

STAFF at Langford Lodge in Crumlin have been on strike this week following ‘decisive rejection of an inadequate last minute pay offer’.

Members of Unite the union working at RLC Langford Lodge Ltd, a leading manufacturer of parts for the defence and civil aerospace sector, commenced a first week of strike action last Monday (June 26).

Pickets were established at the factory gates from dawn and were maintained until midnight on Sunday.

The strike is an escalation of a pre-existing overtime ban in which workers are refusing to work outside their contracted hours or answer electronic devices.

It is understood that the strike shutdown production at the factory where 200 are employed.

Langford Lodge bosses are claiming an inability to meet the workforce pay claim of a 10% increase.

In a last ditch attempt to head off industrial action, the company offered workers 4.75% with a one-off, non-consolidated payment of £750. This was rejected in a ballot vote with a majority of 70%.

The latest published accounts are for the year to end June 2021 which show a pre-tax profit of £2.7 million on turnover of £37.5 million.

In the same year the company paid dividends worth £3.5 million.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham offered her union’s complete backing to the striking workers.

Huge profits

“Langford Lodge has made huge profits through the efforts of its committed workforce and indeed their last accounts show that they were happy to pay out more to shareholders than they earned.

“It is hard to reconcile the willingness of management to bleed this company dry for the benefit of shareholders with their refusal to meet the pay demand of their own employees.

“In entering this strike, the Langford Lodge workers know that they can count on the full support of Unite in their fight for improved pay and respect.”

In a communication issued to all workers in recent days, company bosses warned that the sight of pickets might prejudice future contracts with Martin Baker, a key client which was due to visit the site this week.

However Martin Baker representatives – which is also unionised by Unite – cancelled their visit in what the union have described as ‘a show of solidarity with the Crumlin workers’.

Kieran Ellison is Unite Regional Officer for the workforce and he joined the picket.

“There is simply no trust among the workforce in this management. They tell us they can’t afford anything more but refuse to open their books and hand over the latest management accounts.

“On the eve of strike action they levelled a false threat and made a totally inadequate improved offer which has been rejected decisively by Unite’s membership.

“These manoeuvres have only redoubled our members’ determination.”