Paystrike ‘smacks of greed’
Nebusiness readers believe bosses were over-generous in awarding the protesting Shell drivers their double-digit pay rise last week.
A resounding 91% of respondents to a nebusiness poll said the drivers didn’t deserve an increase on the reported £32,000 annual salary they currently receive.
With the Government and Bank of England battling to tame inflation, which they fear could be further inflamed by large pay settlements, the Shell case was a one-off, believedSteve Guest, managing director of Wilton-based recruitment firm TechConsult UK. He said: “In many industries we will not see that level of pay increase but in those affected by a skills shortage, such as engineering, companies are paying more to attract and retain staff.”
Poll respondents, such as Ian Prudhoe, were critical of the drivers.
Angry at the disruption caused to “millions of innocent motorists,” he said: “If these poor tanker drivers believe that they’re being hard done by having to survive on a paltry £39k a year, why don’t they exercise their right to resign, and look for alternative employment?”
Another respondent, ‘Ann 1’, added: “I was all in favour of them striking for a decent wage - until I found out how much they currently get! Now it just smacks of greed.”
PAGE TWO: Comment from the Evening Gazette's Jez Davison.
