Workers at a Highland aluminum plant have secured an inflation-bursting payrise following union talks.
Around 200 metalworkers at Alvance Aluminium in Lochaber, near Fort William, will be given the two-year payrise starting from next month.
The deal was negotiated by the Unite union, and will be implemented in two separate wage increases: five per cent for plant operators effective from April this year, and four per cent for those in staff and administrative roles effective from September.
A three per cent increase will then be applied to the operators pay grades from April 2025, while a four per cent rise has been negotiated to take effect in January 2025 for staff and administrators.
The payrise is above the current rate of inflation, which stands at 2.20 per cent.
The entire workforce which includes engineers, electricians, smelter operators, maintenance and administrative staff will all receive the eight per cent in the two-year pay deal.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a good wage deal for Alvance aluminium workers. It is a clear demonstration to workers in the local economy of the merits of being a Unite member. As a union, we are laser focused in improving the jobs, pay and conditions of our members.”
Alvance British Aluminium was bought from Rio Tinto by Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance in 2016. The Fort William aluminium plant was originally established in 1929, and it is the UK’s only remaining aluminium smelter. The smelter is powered by GFG Alliance’s hydroelectric station located on the slopes of Ben Nevis.
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There are current plans to establish a new recycling facility and aluminium billet plant. It is anticipated that this development will lead to the creation of up to 45 direct jobs.
Marc Jackson, Unite industrial officer, added: “The pay deals received the overwhelming support of the Alvance workforce. Unite is pleased to have successfully negotiated these pay deals, which will deliver a significant boost to the take home pay of our members.”
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