Unite says use of agency labour during strike action potentially illegal

Unite has today (24 August) claimed that A.G. Barr has potentially engaged in illegal activity during industrial action at the company’s production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld. 

The trade union can reveal that it has reported A.G. Barr and the contractors - Stobbart and Streamline - to the Department for Business and Trade. Unite is demanding an investigation into the soft-drinks giant for the potential use of agency labour through the contractors during previous rounds of strike action, and calling for any possible enforcement action to be taken (1).

Unite represents trucker and shunter drivers who are essential to the supply of the company’s world-renowned products including Irn-Bru - one of the nation’s most popular soft drinks.  

The workers are scheduled to resume 24-hour strike action from midnight Friday 25 August in the increasingly bitter pay dispute (see notes to editors)

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “A.G. Barr’s behaviour during this pay dispute has been disgraceful. The company is on the brink of forever tarnishing its reputation with not only the workers but the Scottish public.”

“A.G. Barr is displaying nasty anti-union tactics in an attempt to bully and intimidate our members back to work. Unite will not tolerate this behaviour and we will challenge it head-on in the defence of our members’ jobs, pay and conditions.” 

The escalating dispute comes at a juncture when the current A.G. Barr chief executive, Roger White, recently announced his retirement from the position within the next 12 months. Unite says that the pay dispute could be settled at a cost amounting to a fraction of Mr White’s last bonus payout of £462,000.

The A.G. Barr boss received the bonus pay along with a salary of £503,000 for the year ending January 2023. Mr White’s current total remuneration package stands at £1.78m (2).

Andy Brown, Unite industrial officer said: “A.G. Barr’s conduct during Unite’s pay dispute has left a very sour taste in the mouths of our members. How the CEO, Mr White, can even begin to say with a straight face that our members don’t deserve more than five per cent when he has a remuneration package totalling nearly £1.8m is ludicrous.”

 “Our members will continue to fight for fair pay at A.G. Barr, and they deserve the Scottish public’s support in fighting back against corporate greed.”

The popular multi-beverage business increased its revenue by 18.2 per cent to £317.6m for the year ended on 29 January 2023. The company which produces popular brands such as Irn-Bru increased its adjusted profit before tax to £43.5m, and due to strong revenue generation, it reported a net cash position of £52.9m.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  1. Under The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, it is a criminal offence for employment agencies to supply labour to employers, specifically for the purposes of covering work normally carried out by employees who are taking part in lawful industrial action.

  2. G. Barr Annual Account made up to 29 January 2023 – Directors’ remuneration report (Page 92)

Strike action dates:

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 25th August 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 1st September 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 8th September 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 15th September 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 22nd September 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 29th September 2023;

  • Commencing at 00.01 hours and concluding at 23.59 hours on 6th October 2023