Workers at Sandy building merchants vote over strike action after rejecting pay offer

Unite, the union, announced today (October 22) that around 300 people employed by Marshalls at sites across England are being balloted for strike action.

Employees, who made a range of construction materials, rejected a pay offer of a one-off non-consolidated £700 payment for 2024.

Unite says that Marshalls annual report for 2023 states it brought in revenues of £671.2 million and had an adjusted operating profit of £70.7 million. With its CEO Matt Pullen being paid £580,000 despite joining the company in March – and branded the pay offer “derisory”.

A Marshalls spokesperson said: “We are aware that Unite is in the process of balloting their members after rejecting the 2024 pay offer. We have since made an updated two-year offer. We await the outcome of the ballot and continue to work with the union to find a satisfactory resolution.”

The ballots for strike action at five of the Marshalls’ opened yesterday (October 21) and will close on November 11.

As well as the Sandy site in Sunderland Road, the workers will vote in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland, St Ives in Cambridgeshire and Ramsbottom in Lancashire.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are well aware that Marshalls is a highly profitable company and will not accept its derisory pay offer. They have Unite’s full support in demanding a fair pay rise.”

Unite national officer Jason Poulter said: “Marshalls can well afford to put forward a fair pay deal for this year. Strike action can still be avoided but that requires Marshalls to table an offer our members can accept.”