A potential strike at a Greencore UK sandwich plant has been avoided following a new pay offer from the food-to-go company.
Employees at the Manton Wood factory in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, were scheduled to go on strike from 11th September to 9th October. However, the strike action was canceled on 8th September, according to a spokesperson from the representative Unite union.
“Following a successful ballot, workers were due to take to the picket line but a last-chance saloon offer from Greencore has seen them suspend strike action as a good-will gesture while the new offer is put to Unite members,” said the union in a statement.
Previously, Unite claimed that over 500 Greencore employees at Manton Wood were earning as little as £10.53 ($13.09) an hour. Neither Unite nor Greencore disclosed the details of the new pay offer.
A spokesperson from Greencore, a supplier to major UK supermarkets, convenience stores, and foodservice outlets, stated, “Following further negotiation with Unite in recent days, we are pleased to have reached agreement in principle on a deal that we believe is in the best interests of our colleagues at Manton Wood and, importantly, means that potential industrial action at the site can be avoided.”
The Manton Wood facility serves sandwiches, wraps, and baguettes to the food-to-go sector, according to Greencore’s website.
During September negotiations, Greencore expressed its willingness to negotiate a revised pay offer after the union rejected its “final pay” offer. Talks between the two parties have been ongoing since January.
Andy Shaw, a regional officer of Unite, stated, “Greencore has finally come back to the negotiating table after the threat of strike action by our members,” emphasizing that discussions about the new offer will take place with the staff.
In its financial report issued in May, Greencore reported a bottom-line loss of £6.2m in the second quarter of the fiscal year, compared to a £1m profit in the previous year. The company’s trading update for the third quarter, published in July, indicated a 1.9% rise in revenue on a reported basis to £495.4m.
With a focus on the food and beverage industry trends, food and drink business, and food and drink consumer trends, Greencore continues to navigate various challenges while striving for growth and improved profitability.
