Unilever branded a “modern-day Scrooge” after Christmas parties are scrapped for striking staff

Dec 14 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL Unilever workers had their Christmas parties scrapped after they joined a national strike in a protest over pensions.

Unions accused the global giant of “acting like a modern-day Scrooge” after the celebrations were cancelled in the wake of the 24-hour walk-out on Friday.

Employees’ traditional free festive food hampers and gift tokens were also withdrawn and given to charity.

Around 150 staff manned a picket line at the Port Sunlight site over the company’s plans to axe its final pension salary scheme.

Workers based at sites in Warrington and Chester also joined the industrial action – the first national strike by Unilever employees.

Bill Hodgson, a full-time convenor for Unite based at Port Sunlight, said workers were astonished.

He said: “The venue had already been booked, and cancelling it hasn’t exactly gone down well.

“There’s a mixture of anger and bemusement.

“Staff are really angry about the pension changes and they feel betrayed. You can see the commitment from the number of people who came out on the picket line despite the hailstones and gales.”