AstraZeneca staff to stage strikes

Workers at pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca are to stage a series of strikes next month in a row over pensions, it has been announced.

The GMB said members at the firm's Macclesfield site will walk out for two hours at a time throughout September 8, for four hours on September 15 and for entire eight-hour shifts from 6am on September 22 to 6am a day later, with further action planned.

The move follows a vote in favour of industrial action in protest at pension changes which the GMB described as "draconian".

The union said the firm is ending its final salary pension scheme for 2,500 staff based mainly at Macclesfield.

National officer Allan Black said the "highly profitable" pharmaceutical company is making "savage" cuts in its pension scheme.

"GMB is enormously proud of the overwhelming vote by members on this pension issue. We are also buoyed up by the messages of support from our sister unions across Europe and across the world.

"The last thing our members want to do is to take strike action at AstraZeneca but the attack by the company on the pension entitlement of our members leaves them with no choice."