Sps Handouts

Recent weeks have seen wage negotiations in most workplaces: ‘For many, this is their first such experience. Take Standard Pressed Steel in Shannon, for example. In its 20 years in Ireland, this American multi-national has never had to negotiate basic wage increases with its employees.

Company resisted unionisation and were free to set wages as they saw fit. In the years since union recognition was won SPS workers’ wages have been determined by National Wage Agreements and Understandings. It is against this background that SPS workers recently gave the required notice to the Company that it was taking official strike action in pursuance of a wage increase in line with the cost of living. The Company has offered, what amounts to, 12/2% over 15 months (with no “cost incurring” claims in that time).

The company’s response to the stike threat was to call a meeting in the factory at which all workers were addressed by plant manager, lan Pullan. By the use of charts and graphs management hoped to convince the workforce that a wage increase, in line with living costs, would cause a ‘‘serious situation for all of us’. Some workers who didn‘t have the stomach for this drivel were later called in by foreman ahd asked why they had walked out of the meeting. It showed a lack of “courtesy” they were told and the Company took a ‘‘dim view’’

This sort of petty-mindedness is nothing new in SPS, whose American tutored-management think in terms of “trinkets for the natives”, For example, the Company has a scheme designed to make workers feel part of the firm. Workers who submit cost-saving ideas are rewarded with ahandout. Yes, that’s what they call it- a “handout”. So, for an idea that might save the Company thousands of fs, the worker will get a biro marked “Sp, Of course we should mention that all those who come up with a cost saving idea are eligible for an annual draw where prizes range from a bag of cookies to a box of biscuits to- wait for it- ashiny, brand new, handle For the first 14 years the with care, all there, toaster, (electric no less). “Dim views” and ‘‘handouts” may be good for a laugh; SPS workers certainly don’t take them seriously. However, a more urgent cause of concern among the 300 plus Standard Pressed Steel workers is the fact that their wages are falling out of line with the cost of living - even to the extent that take-home pay for some of the young, single workers is around £50 per week.

SE eS eee With 25% inflation we bring SPS’s latest offer: an extra 34%.

They have upped their offer - a £50 lump sum - bringing the offer up to a value of 13/44%. While management on the shop floor were ‘‘over the moon” about the new offer and did their best to convey their enthusism to the workers, it was rejected out of hand.

In the meantime, the workers who walked out on the Plant Manager are having a message directed at them by the supervisors and foremen (who are paid to shout at workers), and by set-up men (who are not paid to shout at workers but who do so anyway). The word is being put out that they are blacklisted as far as getting work elsewhere is concerned. However, the real question is - would the mickey mouse management types in SPS last long in any other employment if the “big happy family” at SPS Shannon was ever to be deserted by the “parent” in Jenkintown, USA?