Around 200 workers at a food production factory in Cardiff are taking industrial action today (December 17, 2024) in a row over pay. Workers at Princes factory in Cardiff which produces over 200 products on site say the action is as a result of a previous pay deal being revoked by new owners.
The 35,000 square metres Cardiff site is one of six in the UK. As well as the industrial action on December 17, a second day on December 24 is scheduled if an agreement can not be made. Unite the union representing workers at the Cardiff site say the industrial action comes as a result of previous pay offers revoked by new owners.
They say Unite’s members who work as line operatives and engineers had been offered between a four and seven per cent pay rise dependent on salary by the previous owner, Mitsubishi. The company was subsequently bought by Italian based multinational Newlat S.p.A who withdrew that offer. Instead it is offering a three per cent pay rise.
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Unite claim that the industrial action could cause product shortages – primarily juice – over the festive period. However, Princes have said this is not the case and there will be no shortages over the festive period with most retailers already having received stock until the next trading quarter.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Newlat need to get back round the negotiating table before its customers discover they won’t have any products on their shelves. Our members work in back-breaking roles on low pay and want a fair slice of the pie.
“Newlat make 20 per cent of all their revenues in the UK and are making money off the backs of these workers. Yet they want to short change our members. Unite won’t stand for such behaviour and will back our members in any dispute.”
Princes say that workers at the site have been given substantial annual above inflation pay increases over the past five years, including 8% in 2023. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.
A Princes spokesperson said “We are very disappointed that Unite members are taking industrial action at our Cardiff site (on 17th and 24th December 2024). We recognise the difficult economic circumstances our colleagues and the wider UK face, but believe our offer, which is above the current rate of inflation, to be reasonable following substantial annual above inflation pay increases over the past five years. These included 8% in 2023, 7% in 2022 and 2.5% in 2021, and a one-off cost of living payment of 4.1% in 2022.
“Within the framework of our pay structure, we consider a number of complex factors when calculating the value of any pay awards. We believe that the 2024 pay offer extended to colleagues is fair. It represents in real terms an above inflation pay increase that matches the increase awarded to all other UK colleagues.
“We continue to face fierce economic market challenges and higher costs for employers with the changes to the Living Wage for example added approximately £1,800 of costs for full-time employees in 2024. At this stage, a higher offer is not feasible without raising the cost of our kitchen cupboard essentials that UK consumers depend on and risking our price competitiveness for customers and the long term success of the business.”