I spoke with our UNITE union rep (I'm an engineer in Scotland)and it is a genuine grievance.

Marco.

Marco,

You wouldn't expect the union to say anything different would you? And of course the company will say they are behaving perfectly reasonably. Perhaps we should see if both sides are willing to go to binding arbitration where the only option is complete acceptance of one side or the other, i.e. no meet in the middle compromises, winner take all:-)