Workers at the Tokheim UK Ltd factory in Dundee, which manufactures fuel pump and forecourt equipment, could vote for industrial action after refusing a 2% pay increase, it has been claimed.
Staff were balloted on whether to accept the proposed raise, which also included an increased Christmas bonus payment, by their union Unite, or take industrial action.
It is believed that around 80% of union members voted to reject the “derisory” company offer and the members are now waiting for advice from Unite on their next move.
A source said: “We’ve been in dispute with them since April over wages. This is the ultimate climax now because we’ve voted for industrial action.
“There was a ballot on whether to accept the 2% offer plus an extra day’s holiday and an increase in the Christmas bonus from £100 to £125.
“It was overwhelming to reject the company’s offer.
“People have just had enough, the company have been offering people overtime and extra bonuses to work at the weekends to clear the backlog of work, but they won’t offer us a decent wage rise.
“We were hoping for 3% but they’ve not budged so we’ve been forced into this,” he went on.
“We find it derisory, a company like Tokheim which is a multi-million-pound company dealing across the world.
“This is the straw that broke the camel’s back, we’ve never had a dispute that’s gone to industrial action before, although it’s come close before.
“It’s come to a head now though and we’ll see what the union advise us to do.”
Tokheim has manufactured fuel pump and forecourt electronic equipment from its base at West Pitkerro industrial estate since 1995 and at its height had a 350-strong workforce.
No one from Unite was available for comment. Attempts to contact Tokheim were unsuccessful.