UNITE continued its fight for union recognition at car seat maker TS Tech yesterday with another demonstration at the firm’s gatesagainst poor working conditions.

The union says it has registered more than half of TS Tech’s production department as members, which should see it recognised by the Blackworth Industrial Estate business.

The car seats are supplied to Honda of the UK Manufacturing, which does recognise Unite, along with a number of its other suppliers.

HUM has attempted to intervene in the dispute, but little ground has been made according to Matthew Hill, of Unite’s national organising and leverage department.

“From their point of view it’s a case of delaying tactics in order to try and obviously break the union staff within the production staff,” he said.

“The longer we go on without recognition, the more frustrated the workforce get and lose faith in our ability to get the recognition through.

“TS Tech were due to renew their contract with Honda. As such, they created the illusion of toeing the line by agreeing to a meeting with us.

“They delayed that as long as they could, for three weeks. And then they sat down with us and didn’t really achieve anything.”

The number of hours currently worked by staff, and at short notice, is one of the issues Unite is trying to address with TS Tech.

It said the employees were not being paid for the overtime they were working, and instead banking their hours which are then claimed back in return for their usual pay packet during shut down periods.

Associates are also being made to work Saturdays on a regular basis, with rotas sent out on Thursdays, with no regard for family life or weekend plans.

At 8.05am on October 23, a fire broke out in the weld department, when sparks from a machine set light to an extraction unit.

Mr Hill said the building was evacuated with no instructions, order, or any visible fire marshals.

“Once they were out the building there was no roll call. They had no idea who was left in the building. That’s basic fire safety standards,” he said.

After seeking a voluntary solution to the problem Unite hasnow written to the Government’s Central Arbitration Committee which will now step in to resolve the dispute.

“The employees are fed up and sick and tired of being treated the way they’re treated,” said Mr Hill.

David Stone, a director at TS Tech, said: “Unite has been campaigning for recognition at TS Tech since April this year.

“We have met Unite in August requesting information supporting their campaign. This was not forthcoming.

"Our primary concern is communicating with our associates in this situation and we continue to do so. We will also discuss this issue with Unite when requested.”