MORE than 500 workers at New Holland tractor factory in Basildon will begin pay strikes in May, the UK’s leading union says.

Unite claim workers at the CNH Industrial tractor factory in Basildon are angry that the company has reneged on an agreement struck during 2022 stating pay increases would be calculated by the average rate of inflation over the year.

The union now say that more than 500 workers will strikes in May after being balloted for strike action over pay.

The factory is one of the borough’s biggest employers and has been trading in the town for more than 50 years.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “The pay deal with CNH was agreed in good faith and the company’s extremely healthy finances show that there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for it not to be adhered to.

“CNH is simply trying to rake in even more profits by short-changing its workers. Unite never accepts attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and the CNH Basildon workforce have their union’s total backing in taking strike action.”

CNH is offering four per cent for 2024, rather than the 7.4 per cent which was allegedly under the original agreement, Unite say.

The workers, comprising nearly the entire shopfloor of the factory, will strike on 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and May 30.

Unite say more strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved, and that the action will severely compromise the supply of New Holland tractors from the sixty-year-old factory, which are shipped across the world.

Michelle Cook, Unite regional officer, said: “Paying these workers what was agreed would be water off a duck’s back to CNH.

"Instead, the company will have to explain to its clients that its penny-pinching greed has caused tractor shortages. Strike action can still be avoided if CNH stops trying to double cross its workers and sticks to the original agreement.”