WORKERS at a Northern Irish sawmill could go on strike after rejecting what has been described as a "below inflation" pay offer. 

Staff at the Glennon Brothers-owned Balcas Timber will be asked to consider the industrial action as union leaders accused the site's chiefs of "cynically" attempting to boost profits. 

Unite, which represents employees at the County Fermanagh mill, claims the "highly successful" business could "easily afford" to increase pay, arguing many workers receive minimum wage. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Balcas and Glennon Brothers are highly successful and profitable companies. They can easily afford to provide a fair pay increase. Their failure to do so is a cynical attempt to further boost profits at the expense of workers’ wellbeing.

“Unite always focusses on the jobs, pay and conditions of its workers and the Balcas workforce can be certain of the total support of Unite.”

According to Unite, the workers at the mill submitted a pay claim seeking a cost of living pay increase to maintain pay differentials with the legal minimum, the introduction of a sick pay scheme and a one day increase in holiday entitlement.

Forestry Journal: Staff at the Northern Irish site could go on strike Staff at the Northern Irish site could go on strike (Image: Google)

Gareth Scott, Unite regional officer for the workforce, said: “Working in a saw mill is a tough and challenging job and the pay these workers receive just doesn’t reflect that reality.

“Management needs to recognise the mounting severity of this industrial dispute – it can only be resolved if management returns to the table with a pay offer that meets our members’ expectations.”

A strike ballot will be launched on Tuesday, April 16, and remain open for three weeks, closing on Tuesday, May 7. 

Balcas was purchased by Glennon Brothers from Dutch firm SHV Energy in 2021 in a deal worth around €270 million.

At the time, Mike Glennon, of Glennon Brothers, said: “We look forward to welcoming the Balcas team on board as part of Glennon Brothers, and to working with them to grow and develop the business in the years ahead.”

Brian Murphy, chief executive of Balcas, said back in 2021: “We are excited to be joining Glennon Brothers, a business with a deep-rooted history in the timber processing sector and values aligned to our own.”

When contacted about the possible strike action, officials told Forestry Journal that "Balcas is positively engaged with Unite in annual pay discussion". 

A spokesperson said: "Balcas management have engaged with employees and Unite on securing a successive pay agreement since December 2023.

"Following a series of local level negotiations, the company have since engaged the assistance of the LRA in reaching a successful outcome.

"The process with the LRA commenced last Thursday with further meetings scheduled over the coming weeks."