Unite (the workers’ union) has attempted to negotiate an improvement on Heinz’s two-year offer, but strike action looks inevitable.
Strike action will begin 15 December at 21:50 hours and continue until 16 December 2010 at 21:50 hours. This is in addition to the continuous action involving a ban on overtime and workers adhering strictly to their contracts, which began yesterday.
The Kitt Green stoppage is expected to mean approximately two million fewer cans Heinz products such as tinned beans and soups will be produced during every day of the dispute.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for food and drink, said: “Yesterday, we had absolute proof that living in this country is getting more expensive. Inflation leapt by 4.7%, fuel is staggeringly expensive but hard to sacrifice during this harsh winter, and with the VAT rise coming around the corner in the New Year, it’s getting extremely difficult to make ends meet.
“But Heinz is rolling in cash. Its margins climbed to 37% last year, more than good enough for them to continue to give massive rewards to shareholders and senior executives. They are simply using this economic downturn to squeeze more from a loyal workforce.
“This tight-fistedness will backfire. The size of the vote in favour of taking action to defend their wages shows the strength of feeling. This workforce is determined to be treated with the respect they have earned.”
Action by the workers is expected to be well supported, as around 90% of workers who took part in the ballot voted in favour of strike action, with over 95% for action short of strike – a clear rejection of the company’s 3.3% pay offer this year followed by a capped 3% for next year.
Unite says that further strike action may soon be announced for next week and over the Christmas period. The union has reiterated to Heinz’s management that the situation could still be retrieved through talks.
At the time of writing, representatives of Heinz were unavailable for comment.
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