Striking workers have formed a long picket line outside their Cheadle factory – in a row over sick pay.

Yesterday marked the first of 16 days of planned industrial action at Klarius Products.

Workers voted to strike after the Unite union accused the company of attempting to 'fire and rehire' its staff by getting them to sign a new contract with less favourable sickness terms.

Carl Johnson has worked for the company for 33 years and he said: "We are not greedy people."

Other workers asked not to be named.

One said: "The company is saying people are abusing the system. There might be a handful who have abused it but they know who they are. There are lads in this line that have worked 30-plus years. We just want fairness and if we don't stand up for ourselves what's coming next."

Yesterday marked the first of 16 days of planned industrial action at Klarius Products in Cheadle (Google).

Another long-serving worker added: "We're out here supporting fairness and equality and we see it as not levelling up but rather a levelling down of terms and conditions. It doesn't matter how long you've worked here, we were given an ultimatum to sign this contract or your employment will be terminated.

"Initially this new contact was going to be for everyone on the site but now it isn't – there are people who are not having their contact altered. This isn't about looking after ourselves, we want it for everyone on the site."

Klarius Products produces parts and spares of car emission equipment, including exhausts, catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters, mounting and accessories, including aerosols.

A company spokesperson said:"The changes to shop-floor sick pay are to ensure parity and are essential for the continuity of the business and our ability to recruit and retain staff. The historic scheme is out of proportion when compared to other local and national sick pay schemes in this industry and has unfortunately led to significantly higher levels of absence and unseasonable patterns of absence in the group of people entitled to receive it. Negotiations with the union have unfortunately failed to progress productively.

"However, we firmly believe that the new scheme provides the security that all of our shop-floor employees deserve as we continue to support them in genuine instances of sickness. There is a new contract available to sign for any employees who have not yet currently done so, and this process now only applies to a minority of the workforce. Many have understood the business requirement to change the scheme and have welcomed the changes.

"We do not expect this industrial action to affect our ability to supply our customers and thank all of our staff for their continued commitment during this period of disruption."

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