The GMB Union had been preparing to ballot their members at Gates Power Transmission in Heathhall after bosses offered workers a 0.5 per cent pay rise, which they described as ‘derisory’.
However, the employer, which is part of the Gates Corporation, yesterday increased their offer to 2.5 per cent.
And a GMB spokesman last night said: “The company came forward with a new 2.5 per cent increase on all basic rates of pay for the period October 2020 to October 2022, so that will be backdated.
“We will be doing a colleague ballot on the offer, with a recommendation to accept.
“This won’t be a self funded increase, it’s real money and is a reasonable increase on their initial offer which was derisory. It will cover all workers.”
GMB Scotland organiser Ude Joe Adigwe explained the staff at Dumfries were part of the frontline response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “Full production has been maintained at the Dumfries site over the last 15 months, with workers producing parts for ventilators as well as the core business of driving belts for cars.
“They have helped the business generate an excellent financial outlook in these unprecedented times.
“We asked Gates to listen to the workers’ voice and improve the pay offer, and they have done. After a wretched year, it’s the least our members deserve for maintaining full production throughout this pandemic and helping the business achieve a strong financial outlook. The offer will now be subject to the full consultation of GMB members with our recommendation to accept.”
