ANGRY steel workers in Newport took industrial action yesterday claiming they had not received a pay rise for several years.

Workers from BRC Limited picketed the company’s factory on Corporation Road as part of industrial action which will take place over the next two weeks.

Around 40 employees from the firm, which is a leading manufacturer of engineered steel products, say they decided to go on strike after not receiving an increase in their pay for the last six or seven years.

Workers said that despite their efforts to negotiate with the company their demands have not been met.

One employee said: “We just want to have a decent living wage. We produce the most goods but get paid the worst. We are the lowest paid steel workers in South Wales.”

Another said: “We have done everything we possibly can to make the company work. We have given up holidays, worked extra hours, we all just want something done about our pay.”

Alun Davies, full-time regional organiser for the union Community, was also on the picket line outside the factory. He said: “We just want the company to treat the employees with some respect and dignity and sit down with us and have a constructive debate about this issue.”

The workers will also be on strike on Friday, November 28, Monday, December 1, and Friday, December 5, and will also have an overtime ban throughout the two weeks.

The Argus contacted the company for a comment, but it had not responded.