Employer Hargreaves and client CF Fertiliser raking in profits but low paid workers refused fair pay

Workers employed by Hargreaves Industrial Services at CF Fertiliser’s Billingham factory will strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

The low paid workers pack and load ammonium nitrate produced at the County Durham site for distribution to farmers across the country.

The workers are angry at a derisory pay offer from Hargreaves, which had a turnover of £59 million and made pre-tax profits of £2.9 million in the year ending May 2023. CF Fertiliser had a turnover of £252 million in the year ending December 2023 and made operating profits of £30 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Both Hargreaves and CF Fertiliser can fully afford to ensure these workers receive a fair pay offer. Our members at Billingham will receive Unite’s total backing during these strikes.”

The workers will strike from 12 to 20 September and from 28 September to 6 October . Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved.

The strikes will cause severe disruption to CF Fertiliser’s Billingham operations and impact the supply of fertiliser for farmers across the country.

Unite regional officer Neil Howells said: “There is still time for industrial action to be avoided but that will require a pay offer being put forward that our members can accept.”