Sun Chemical, the world’s largest ink maker houses its biggest manufacturing site in Midsomer Norton, with over eighty five union members and factory workers.

The company, owned by Japanese chemicals giant DIC Corporation, turnover ¥855.4bn (£5.4 billion) with DIC releasing in their 2021 report that the corporation made £2.5 billion in profits.

Employees across the UK have taken action after the 3% pay offer following years of below-inflation pay rises and continued lack of harmonisation in pay with their UK sister sites, Midsomer Norton being the lowest paid out of all the companies.

Matt Lanfer, Midsomer Norton’s Union representative told The Journal: “This strike is really important to employees as there has been continued erosion of pay year on year, over a ten-year period. This year and last has just exasperated the employees. They were working around the clock during the pandemic and had to be in with no protection from the vaccine.”

Sharon Graham, Unite’s General Secretary stated that members will receive Unite’s “full support” following an overtime ban on 6th June, followed by the twenty-four-hour strike on 9th June, with more planned throughout the month.

Sun Chemical UK employees from Midsomer Norton strike outside the factory.
(John Newport)

Tony Hulbert, Unite South West Regional Officer, said: “The sites are taking action and making the business aware that the employees are so far out of pocket, it is about taking a stand and realising enough is enough!

“We want to see a pay rise in recognition of their hard work.”

One employee at the Midsomer Norton site said: “I think it is so poor on behalf of the company to not get around the table and discuss this. This is the first time I have had to strike in forty plus years of employment.

“With the rise in cost of living, we are actively losing out on money. It feels as though we are taking a pay cut due to inflation!”

Unite National Officer, Louisa Bull, stated: “Our Sun Chemical members have put up with redundancies and site closures in recent years and are now expected to take “real terms” pay cut.”

Unite the Union are planning on taking more action throughout the month, with strikes on Thursday, 16th June and Thursday, 30th June in the pipeline.