Unite the Union recently announced that its members, employed at various sites including Bradford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Long Sutton, and Wisbech, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action. This decision comes after Princes failed to present a satisfactory pay offer to its employees.
Unite revealed that Newlat, which acquired Princes last year, has rescinded a previously proposed pay raise of between 4% and 7%, initially submitted by the former owner Mitsubishi. Instead, Newlat has now proposed a mere 3% increase.
“Newlat needs to return to the negotiating table before its customers find their shelves empty,” stated Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham. She emphasized, “Our members are engaged in physically demanding roles for low wages and they deserve a fair share of the profits.”
Princes Responds
In light of the ongoing dispute, Princes has expressed that resolving the matter with Unite has become increasingly challenging. A spokesperson for Princes commented, “We have engaged with the Union for several months, offering an above-inflation pay rise and proposing to backdate this to April 2024 during discussions; however, Unite advised that they would not allow such arrangements.”
“The Princes board fully recognizes our serious obligation to care for our colleagues. However, we equally hold a responsibility to ensure Princes remains a sustainable business in the long term by effectively managing our costs and being a competitive supplier in the UK food and beverage sector,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Unite National Officer for Food, Drink, and Agriculture, Paul Travers, criticized Newlat for what he perceives as cost-cutting measures resulting from its acquisition of Princes. He argued, “Newlat can prevent this strike, which stems from their own decisions, by returning to the negotiating table with a better pay proposal for our members.”
Industrial action has already taken place at the Cardiff site last year, and Unite anticipates that hundreds of its members will participate in the upcoming strikes. These strikes are set to commence in Bradford and Glasgow on January 6, followed by Long Sutton, Wisbech, and Cardiff in the subsequent days.
