Double Glazing Blogger: Total Windows And DB Glass To Strike

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Total Windows And DB Glass To Strike

It seems the growing trend to protest this year has now spread to our own little sector of the economy. It is reported on BBC Devon that Total Windows and DB Glass, both owned by the Epwin Group, are to go on strike over pay - more specifically due to not having a pay rise for the last three years.

According to the BBC Devon site, no one from Epwin Group was available for comment.

Whenever the talks of strikes comes up, the accompanying argument of the principle of the thing is also debated. According to www.thewestsouth.blogspot.com the strike was approved by over 77%. Now that's a positive response in any way you look at it. But is striking the right option?

To me, striking should only ever be the last resort, and I know this is the opinion of many others. I completely understand that they wish to be heard and want to stick up for themselves and their positions. But while taking industrial action, they should also consider that they are lucky enough to have a job (which is paid over the minimum wage) to strike over.

Personally, I wouldn't be striking right now. It is no only the Epwin Group who cannot afford to raise wages at this current time, most businesses haven't, and haven't for the last few also. In fact most businesses have cut wages in order to reduce the wage bill to make sure of the continuity of the business. Striking will only alert the company to those who are most militant and wish to cause disruption in order to get themselves heard.

Negotiations are the most sensible route to take right now. Both parties need to get round the table to sort something out. With Epwin being such a large company, large enough to be recognized by the BBC, this sort of negative publicity will only serve to damage the name locally and nationally.

Labels: Double glazing companies, double glazing industry, economy, Recession, strikes, wages

12 Comments:

Anonymous said...: I work for the epwin group and have voted yes to strike for several reasons.

1. No pay rise for 4 years not 3.
2. During meetings with the management over the last 2 years we have been lied to as to the profits the group is making. We were told the group isnt making any profit. Then we find out off the internet that the group made 4.5million in profit last year.
3. Living costs in the south west are some of the highest in the country with some of the lowest wages in the country. Each year we become worse off and it's just built up to a point were something needs to be done.
4. For the last few years the company will use any excuse not to help it employees out even during a record year in 2009 when the higher ups got bonuses (some around the 50,000 mark) and we get nothing and they also ask for more work from us with no incentive.

We're tired of it all and the fact that during all of this epwin has made no pubic statement. This just shows they're not willing to talk to anyone on the matter even us. Negotiating with them has been like talking to a brick wall. This is our last resort to make the company listen.; November 19, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Double Glazing Blogger said...: Hi Anon

Thanks for your response as regards to the up coming strike. It would be good for my readers and the industry if you would be able to keep us all up to date on here with the progress of any negotiations and the upcoming strike.

I do hope that your situation is resolved before any strike actions has to take place.

Regards

DGB; November 19, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Anon,
I heard there is a meeting next week. Any truth in this and what do you think it will take to prevent strike action.

Good luck with it all, hope its settled soon and with both parties relatively happy.

Cheers; November 19, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Anonymous said...: If you are not happy with your pay and employers why don't you leave and find a job that will meet your expectations. That's right you will struggle because unemployment is at a record high.

I've heard that The epwin group are opening trade outlets throughout the country which inturn will create jobs. But anon won't appreciate this because he only cares about number 1. Would he be happy if the epwin group made 5% of the workforce redundant to enable his payrise.

Get real and watch the news!; November 19, 2011 at 11:12 PM
TwsInsider said...: There is a meeting next Thursday; November 20, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Tws Insider said...: To the last anon.
"The Epwin Group is where it is now because of the hard work of its workforce" says Group Chairman Jim Rawson.

Epwin badly needs to invest in its largely discontent workforce.
I started at TWS in 2003 on £280 gross per week. In 2011 I now earn £277. All my pay rises wiped out by a pay reduction at the beginning of this year when the night shift premium was scrapped.; November 20, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Anonymous said...: Many Companies in manufacturing are struggling and unless they take swift and serious steps to keep costs to the bare minimum then they will not survive.

As someone has already said, if you don't like where you are working go elsewhere. You are not under any obligation to stay. Jobs are not easy to come by so if you have to stay there, surely you would be best served to put all this strike planning energy to better use by helping to ensure the Company actually survives other wise you will be on the dole.

Trust me the owners/managers do not need this on top of everything else...let them get on with steering the Company through this recession rather than them having to sort out possible strike action.

If you were unhappy four years ago about no pay rise why didn't you start looking for something else back then? Four years is a long time to put up with a situation you weren't happy with....stick with it another 4 years and then if you're still unhappy then by all means plan a strike then.; November 21, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Anonymous said...: To the last anonymous, who wondered why someone who is unhappy with their job stays for four years...

Firstly, it's cumulative. Year one when there are no pay rises, you may be a little disgruntled but not enough to walk out. Year two, same thing happens ... etc etc. After four years of effectively having less to live on (because prices rise while your wage doesn't), you're entitled to stand up and make your point. Especially when, despite the recession, Epwin have bragged about their growth and results.

Secondly, the reason people don't instantly walk out when they don't get what they want is because (a) they're not children, and (b) most staff usually show loyalty to their employer.

I'm assuming that you are a manager/owner. If so, then you probably appreciate staff loyalty when it suits you. I bet that your company - like so many others - relies on long-term experienced staff every day. And yet, after four years of pay freeze before threatening to take action, your first response is "on yer bike". If that's the case, it speaks volumes about just how good a manager/owner you are.

It seems perfectly fair for staff who have been on a pay freeze for four years to try and negotiate with management. If management refuse to negotiate (and just saying "no" to everything doesn't count as negotiation), then the workforce are well within their rights (protected in law) to ballot for strike action. At the very minimum, it puts the ball firmly back into Epwin's court and sends them a clear message that they have an issue to deal with.; November 21, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Anonymous said...: As an ex Epwin employee this issue is very close to me.
The real issue here is that everyone has lost out already. The negative publicity will do no one any good and the harm has already been done. The competition are waiting and watching.
If the board will not speak to the Union in a meaningful way the members will have no other option.
It has not only been a pay freeze for four years but for approx 40% it also meant a paycut of £60 per week at the end of 2010.
Output levels have consistently improved at both TWS and DB Glass in recent years but volumes continue to drop. The key point here being it has been mainly due to Sierra Windows and not other selling parts of Epwin.
The poor showing here has not been dealt with and is key to this area.
There is also a history of agreements being broken and changed after the event.
As I understand in recent years anyone who has attempted to speak out is no longer with the company.
The real question is how much does Epwin want a base in the South West?
Not everyone is as lucky as myself and had a chance to move on from Epwin.Jobs are more forthcoming in the Midlands than the Southwest.
I had several good years with Epwin and as I understand this at DB Glass and TWS has been brewing for some time and new management have been very bullish.
Hopefully a solution will have been reached today.; November 23, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Anonymous said...: As a fellow Epwin group employee up in the midlands you fully get my support for the action you are taking; November 25, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Anonymous said...: Surely if you take this action in the south west, the Epwin group will look at the business units in much greater depths.
i would bet if they moved operations to a more central location and updated production techniques these business units would become profitable, not least for transport saving costs.
The profits they make elsewhere in other business units are used to help prop up the rest of the failing parts like TWS.

poor quality and service from TWS has meant loss of customers and the workers are to blame. therefore strike action will only serve to upset your remaining customers.; December 3, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Anonymous said...: What was the proposal that was put forward at the last meeting?; December 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM

This Page

Double Glazing Blogger

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Total Windows And DB Glass To Strike

12 Comments:

About Me

Previous Posts