WikiWirral is where great friendships are made.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,281
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
7 members (3 invisible), 8,139 guests, and 433 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
What song are you listening to?
by diggingdeeper - 28th Mar 2024 6:06pm
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
cools 1
Kylix 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#656186 21st Jan 2012 1:26am
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,344
Likes: 19
Wiki Master
OP Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,344
Likes: 19
First of 10 planned strikes today at Unilever Port Sunlight.

SOURCE


Attached Images
DSCF2634-s.jpg

We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn

https://ddue.uk
Google Ads
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 108
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 108
"BRILLIANT", its about time the british workforce stood up to these multinational companys, who by the way are making MEGA profits, last year Unilever made something like 4.6 BILLION euros net profits.Keep it up lads and lasses.......

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 907
Guardian
Offline
Guardian
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 907
withthat

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
A bird in the hand.....
It'll be no good moaning when the multi-national pulls production and bases it on the continent, it's a Dutch multi.
This has all been done before with other "British" firms. Your principals go nowhere when you haven't got a job.

Last edited by BandyCoot; 22nd Jan 2012 1:12pm.

Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 907
Guardian
Offline
Guardian
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 907
Originally Posted by BandyCoot
A bird in the hand.....
It'll be no good moaning when the multi-national pulls production and bases it on the continent, it's a Dutch multi.
This has all been done before with other "British" firms. Your principals go nowhere when you haven't got a job.


It's similar to Shell in that it's half British and half Dutch.

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Forum Veteran
Online Content
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Are there any large "English or British" manufacturing companies left.
Seems to me everything belongs to either owners or investors from other countries

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,355
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,355
Originally Posted by BandyCoot
A bird in the hand.....
It'll be no good moaning when the multi-national pulls production and bases it on the continent, it's a Dutch multi.
This has all been done before with other "British" firms. Your principals go nowhere when you haven't got a job.


+1 to that. Moving an industry/ research base to the continent or elsewhere would be a real danger. More likely is for parts to go to the USA or elsewhere outside Europe eg Brazil, Indonesia. I worked for this company for near 40 years and figuratively still listen at the keyhole to know what goes on. To maintain your job for the future my message would be "don't push your luck".

The strike action is about the pension scheme - which is very, very, much in the red ie far more being taken out (by wrinklies like me) than comes in. That is very largely because the fund income from investments has (like all investments globally) been reduced by trivial interest rates. That problem is compounded by mechanisation having dramatically reduced the number of fund-contributing employees. To maintain current pensions the fund is heavily subsidised by the parent company so the pension system sort of works, but it does not take a genius to see that the funding and payout arrangements need to change. The only alternative would be for the current employees to have to make a very much greater contribution to their pension during their working life. That could maybe be acceptable if, like me, an individual stayed with the company for all their working life. However, these days folk change their employer a fair number of times giving an issue of how to deal with residual pension entitlement.

Overall the pensions issue is one which HAS to be addressed by all industries BUT, I was always an optimist, one day the global economy will recover and pension funds will again be able to invest enough to make us smile.

Snod


5 Precepts of Buddhism seem appropriate. Refrain from taking life. Refrain from taking that which is not given. Refrain from misconduct. Refrain from lying. Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 8,620
H4H County Volunteer
Wiki Veteran
Offline
H4H County Volunteer
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 8,620
My Dad worked for Levers for 50+ years without a day off sick. He got a medal off the Queen because of it in 1977. His pension probably worked out less than they get now (taking into account inflation & the "worth" of money these days etc). I don't think he got a pension, or anything to be honest, from the Army. He was just happy to have had a job for all those years really.

I agree with Snod about the paying in. You don't need to be an economist to work out that if there's fewer employees paying in, the pot is going to be smaller. If the payments continue to rise with inflation, the chances are that the company will end up either relocating to a country that is cheaper in every respect or end up going into receivership. Ergo, the payouts will need to be smaller. I appreciate that during this recession money is tight, but surely there must be some form of private pension that has small contributions that could top it up (one less pint per week, one less packet of fags per week - you get the idea).

I think possibly another problem is that most people who are of my age group (35-45) took it for granted that we would get a state pension so didnt bother paying into a private pension scheme. I opted out of the NHS pension scheme in the 90's because we were told that it wasn't worth the paper it was written on. We got £500 back. In hindsight, I should have put it straight into a private pension, but I was young and blew it. I regret that now but what's done is done.

I can see both sides of the arguement, but I don't think strikes solve anything. JMPO of course.


Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!

It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Don't think your dad got an army pensh because of the time he was in , wench. Something about it being pre-1972. We're still trying to get our Navy pensh from the 60's. I did 9 yrs mans time but get nowt for it and always thought I would because our pay rises were always abated to take the pension into consideration, which is a form of paying contributions in all but words. Can't see us every getting it but you have to try. The Union men who are inciting the action will still get their pension from the Union though, bully for them.


Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
And so will the big bosses get their pension, so bully for them.
You touched on it, reduced pay rises and part of that deal was to put money into your pension, now that is taking a pay rise earned years ago off you. Similar to a firm telling you a wage rise negotiated 20years ago is being taken off you. How many workers would or should put up with that, the £30 rise we gave you 20 years ago we are taking off you, now you can work for pre 1990 wages. Its not cricket. somad


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
It certainly aint, but the cricket is crap at the moment too. I'm paying tax on my RAF pensh too, so don't get away with anything. Not entitled to claim zilch anyway but hey, I've got my bus pass.


Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by BandyCoot
It certainly aint, but the cricket is crap at the moment too. I'm paying tax on my RAF pensh too, so don't get away with anything. Not entitled to claim zilch anyway but hey, I've got my bus pass.


They'll have the bus pass off you soon, just wait and see, 50 squid off the heating allowance was just the start of it.


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Forum Veteran
Online Content
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Double whammy
I think raising the amount you have to pay in to pensions and higher insurances is a government think tank aroundabout way of having more money available to borrow.
You pay into your private pension, the money is then used to buy gilt edged bonds which the gov have to pay interest on which is then passed on to the taxpayer to pay one way or the other cuts in services or loss of jobs.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.


ONS data reveal that about two-thirds of all gilts are held by insurance companies and pension funds.[1] During 2009 large quantities of gilts were created and purchased by the Bank of England under its policy of quantitative easing.


Conventional gilts

These are the simplest form of UK government bond and make up the largest share of UK government debt (30% as of March 2008).[3][4] A conventional gilt is a bond issued by the UK government which pays the holder a fixed cash payment (or coupon) every six months until maturity, at which point the holder receives his final coupon payment and the return of the principal.

Last edited by derekdwc; 23rd Jan 2012 3:31pm.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10
Newbeee
Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10
Originally Posted by Snodvan
Originally Posted by BandyCoot
A bird in the hand.....
It'll be no good moaning when the multi-national pulls production and bases it on the continent, it's a Dutch multi.
This has all been done before with other "British" firms. Your principals go nowhere when you haven't got a job.


+1 to that. Moving an industry/ research base to the continent or elsewhere would be a real danger. More likely is for parts to go to the USA or elsewhere outside Europe eg Brazil, Indonesia. I worked for this company for near 40 years and figuratively still listen at the keyhole to know what goes on. To maintain your job for the future my message would be "don't push your luck".

The strike action is about the pension scheme - which is very, very, much in the red ie far more being taken out (by wrinklies like me) than comes in. That is very largely because the fund income from investments has (like all investments globally) been reduced by trivial interest rates. That problem is compounded by mechanisation having dramatically reduced the number of fund-contributing employees. To maintain current pensions the fund is heavily subsidised by the parent company so the pension system sort of works, but it does not take a genius to see that the funding and payout arrangements need to change. The only alternative would be for the current employees to have to make a very much greater contribution to their pension during their working life. That could maybe be acceptable if, like me, an individual stayed with the company for all their working life. However, these days folk change their employer a fair number of times giving an issue of how to deal with residual pension entitlement.

Overall the pensions issue is one which HAS to be addressed by all industries BUT, I was always an optimist, one day the global economy will recover and pension funds will again be able to invest enough to make us smile.

Snod
Originally Posted by Snodvan
Originally Posted by BandyCoot
A bird in the hand.....
It'll be no good moaning when the multi-national pulls production and bases it on the continent, it's a Dutch multi.
This has all been done before with other "British" firms. Your principals go nowhere when you haven't got a job.


+1 to that. Moving an industry/ research base to the continent or elsewhere would be a real danger. More likely is for parts to go to the USA or elsewhere outside Europe eg Brazil, Indonesia. I worked for this company for near 40 years and figuratively still listen at the keyhole to know what goes on. To maintain your job for the future my message would be "don't push your luck".

The strike action is about the pension scheme - which is very, very, much in the red ie far more being taken out (by wrinklies like me) than comes in. That is very largely because the fund income from investments has (like all investments globally) been reduced by trivial interest rates. That problem is compounded by mechanisation having dramatically reduced the number of fund-contributing employees. To maintain current pensions the fund is heavily subsidised by the parent company so the pension system sort of works, but it does not take a genius to see that the funding and payout arrangements need to change. The only alternative would be for the current employees to have to make a very much greater contribution to their pension during their working life. That could maybe be acceptable if, like me, an individual stayed with the company for all their working life. However, these days folk change their employer a fair number of times giving an issue of how to deal with residual pension entitlement.

Overall the pensions issue is one which HAS to be addressed by all industries BUT, I was always an optimist, one day the global economy will recover and pension funds will again be able to invest enough to make us smile.

Snod
I work for unilever and when they take are pension off us you will still get 5% increase a year i will only get 3% and i am the one still doing 12 hour shifts and as for the pension being in the red it was i lie they just want to take it because it fits in with there global stratergy to cut cost so paul polman can can pick a nice 45 million wage packet for a year but i am sure he deserves it

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,355
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,355
Dave - please remember that Unilever does not own the Pension Fund. The fund is a completely separate Trust Company. Unilever CANNOT take money out of the fund. They could maybe BORROW money from the fund if they wanted/ really needed the money - and they would then pay interest on what they had borrowed. I may be wrong but I do not think they have ever done that.

In the same way the fund (which makes lots of investments in many companies/ government stocks in order to boost the pension funds) MAY decide to "invest" in Unilever shares. They do normally do that - when they judge there is likely to be a good return on the investment.

It is most certainly NOT a lie that the pension fund is in deficit. Read the audited pension fund accounts - real boring they are I warn you. The fund has been in deficit for some years because of the downturn in investment income but Unilever has ploughed company money into the fund so that (a) there was money "there" to meet immediate pension payment needs (b) so that the fund did not have to 'cash-in' long term investments to get cash-in-hand for pension payments.

Yes, this year I am told I will get a 5% increase in my pension, and you may well be getting less as a wage increase. However, you ignore that in several past years I have had no/ trivial pension increase while you have still had a wage increase.

I have to confess that I had to look up who Paul Polman is! I do not have acquaintances at that sort of level. I do not suppose you do either, but have most likely been "fed" his name and supposed salary package details by those who promote strike action.

While looking him up I also see that his total remuneration (salary + stock options and twiddly bits) for 2010/ 2011 comes to €2.8 million ie about £2.3 million. A lot of £ of course but not the £45 million you quoted. I have no idea from where you obtain such a figure. To compare the Chairmen/ Chief Executives of the Unilever main competitors (P&G and Colgate) receive respectively packages that total the equivalent of £9.8 million and £10.3 million - but I still would not say Mr Polman is likely to be short of a bob or two.

Snod



5 Precepts of Buddhism seem appropriate. Refrain from taking life. Refrain from taking that which is not given. Refrain from misconduct. Refrain from lying. Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
diggingdeeper
diggingdeeper
Wirral
Posts: 14,344
Joined: July 2008
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
What song are you listening to?
by - 24th Jun 2007 9:06am
Popular Topics(Views)
5,069,769 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,846 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5