Unite members at food supply company to strike after low pay offer

Workers at convenience foods producer, Greencore, are to begin strike action over poverty-levels of pay from their employer, Unite, the country’s leading trade union, announced today (Friday 1 September).

Over 500 workers, many earning as little as £10.53 an hour, are demanding increased pay. Following the failure of Greencore to make an improved offer, workers have been left with no choice but to head to the picket line. Strikes will begin on 11 September and last until 9 October.

Greencore is a major supplier of sandwiches and ready meals to big supermarkets like Morrisons, Asda, Aldi, Lidl and Co-Op as well as high street retailers like Boots. The industrial action will likely see a shortage of sandwiches on the shelves for consumers.

Unite members perform a range of vital roles at Greencore including factory line workers, quality controllers, store workers and cleaners. Greencore’s last accounts show profits of over £15 million[1]

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Greencore workers do difficult work to ensure that sandwiches reach supermarket shelves across the country. Yet their employer, whilst making substantial profits, sees fit not to share the spoils with its workers.”

“Our members will have the unceasing support of Unite in their fight for improved pay.”

Unite regional officer, Andy Shaw, added: “We see the profits Greencore is making but they won’t pay their workers a fair wage at a time of high-inflation and high-prices. Our members have had enough and will be walking out in September.”

“It’s not too late to avoid this action if the company remembers where its profits come from and heads back to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer.”

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications adviser David Carnell on 07718 666592.

Email: [email protected]

  • Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.