Union say hundreds of Camelon coachbuilder workers set to down tools during fortnight of strike action

The union stated its members based at the Camelon coachbuilder firm were scheduled to strike Monday, Devember 4 to Sunday, December 17 over a recent pay offer of four per cent.

Unite, which represents 400 workers at the firm, said a strike ballot returned an 81.3 per cent yes vote on a 70 per cent turnout.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s skilled manufacturing members at ADL’s Camelon factory deserve a fair pay rise. The current pay offer of four

per cent represents a substantial real terms pay cut.

“Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and always defends its members jobs, pay and conditions. The workers at Alexander Dennis will receive the union’s

unswaying support.”

Pat Egan, Unite industrial officer added: “ADL continues to have a healthy order book with hundreds of new single and double decker buses being built in Camelon. ADL still has an opportunity to get back round the table with an improved pay offer before December’s two-week long strike.”

Canadian based New Flyer Industries (NFI) Group acquired ADL – which consists of the Camelon manufacturing site and the Larbert corporate headquarters – back in 2019.

Unite stated ADL is scheduled to open its Enviro400 bus manufacturing site in Larbert next month.

A spokesperson for Alexander Dennis Ltd said: “We are very disappointed with the news that the unions representing our Camelon factory have not accepted our latest offer and intend to take industrial action in December.

"The offer on the table would have taken the hourly rate of a vehicle builder to £18.22, the highest in our domestic manufacturing industry which reflects the high regard we have for the skilled trades of our workforce.

"We have continued to engage in good faith negotiations to reach a fair and reasonable agreement with our trade union representatives. This action comes amid the challenges our industry has faced across market recovery and global supply headwinds.”