Strike at Shard and Everton stadium steel firm

More than 100 workers are set to strike at the UK's largest structural steel contractor.

Staff at Severfield Plc's site in Bolton, will walk out after being offered a 0 per cent 'pay rise' by bosses.

More than 90% of GMB members, working as welders, platers and machine operators, voted in favour of strike action at the company's Lostock site.

The company, which has provided the steel work for iconic projects like the Shard and the new Everton stadium, says it suffered a loss and won't provide a pay rise.

GMB members have been conducting an overtime ban this week, and will start with one full day of strike action on Monday 16 February, followed by two full days of strike action on Monday 23 February and Tuesday 24 February.

John Weir, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

"No worker anywhere deserves to be offered literally nothing.

"GMB members at Severfield do highly skilled work, in an industry where such talent is in short supply.

"Severfield is a huge company, with revenues of nearly half a billion pounds.

"Regardless of losses in a single year, that workers should shoulder the burden is unacceptable.

"GMB has provided a range of options to settle this dispute, but Severfield continues to say 0 per cent is their final offer, so our members are left with no choice but to strike."