More Than 100 Workers Walk Out Over Pay Dispute at Hitchin Manufacturing Site
Industrial action expected to halt production until 22 May
More than 100 employees at Crane Building Services & Utilities have begun two weeks of strike action in a dispute over pay, bringing manufacturing activity at the company’s Hitchin site to a standstill.
The industrial action, which started on Monday 11 May, is scheduled to continue until Friday 22 May inclusive. Workers represented by GMB Union voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action after rejecting what they described as an unsatisfactory pay offer from the employer.
According to the union, 84 per cent of participating members backed strike action following mounting frustration over wages that workers believe do not reflect their skills, experience, and contribution to the business.
The dispute marks the second occasion in the past two years that employees at Crane BS&U have taken industrial action in pursuit of improved pay terms. Union representatives said the repeated disputes demonstrate ongoing dissatisfaction among the workforce over pay negotiations and wider concerns about recognition and value within the business.
Manufacturing Operations Set to Be Impacted
The strike is expected to disrupt manufacturing operations at the Hitchin facility throughout the duration of the action. Crane BS&U is involved in the production of engineering and utility-related systems, with the site employing a substantial skilled workforce across manufacturing and operational roles.
Trade unions across the manufacturing and engineering sectors have continued to press employers for higher wage settlements amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures and inflationary concerns affecting workers across the UK economy. Industrial disputes linked to pay have become increasingly common in recent years as employees seek compensation packages that better reflect rising household costs.
GMB Union said its members had reached a point where industrial action was viewed as necessary after negotiations failed to produce a satisfactory outcome.
Union says workers “are not prepared to accept less than they are worth”
Andre Marques, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“This strike action shows the strength of feeling among the workers at Crane BS&U.
“They are not prepared to accept less than they are worth.
“We remain open to meaningful dialogue to resolve this dispute and secure a fair uplift for our members.”
The union has indicated that it remains willing to continue discussions with management in an effort to reach an agreement and bring the dispute to an end. However, no resolution had been announced as the strike commenced.
Renewed Focus on Pay Pressures in UK Manufacturing
The action at Crane BS&U reflects wider tensions across the UK manufacturing sector, where employers and unions continue to face pressure over wage negotiations, recruitment, and staff retention.
Many skilled workers in engineering and manufacturing have argued that pay settlements have failed to keep pace with inflation and the increasing demand for specialist labour. Employers, meanwhile, continue to balance wage expectations against broader economic uncertainty and operational costs.
For workers at the Hitchin site, the dispute represents a continuation of concerns first raised during previous negotiations, with employees again turning to industrial action after talks failed to secure an agreement they considered acceptable.
The outcome of the dispute may prove significant not only for the workforce at Crane BS&U but also for wider labour relations within the engineering and utilities manufacturing sector, where unions continue to seek stronger wage settlements for skilled industrial workers.
As strike action continues over the coming days, attention will remain on whether further negotiations between the company and union representatives can deliver a breakthrough before the planned end of the industrial action on 22 May.
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