Workers at the UK’s largest sandwich supplier are set to strike over pay disputes, threatening meal deals at major supermarkets.
- More than 500 employees at Greencore demand increased wages from their current £10.53 hourly rate.
- Should negotiations fail, industrial action is planned from September 11 to October 9, impacting sandwich availability.
- Greencore, which produced 975 million sandwiches last year, sees significant profit increases amid meal deal popularity.
- Union representatives express disappointment in pay offers despite Greencore’s substantial revenue growth.
Workers at Greencore, the UK’s leading sandwich supplier, have voted to strike due to dissatisfaction with current pay levels. Over 500 employees are demanding higher wages, specifically an increase from their current £10.53 per hour rate. This dispute has escalated to potential industrial action, which could severely impact the availability of meal deals across major UK supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Co-op, and Boots.
The planned strike is scheduled from September 11 until October 9 unless an agreement is reached beforehand. During this period, consumers may experience a noticeable shortage of sandwiches, which are a key component of popular meal deals often including a drink and snack. This potential disruption comes at a critical time as meal deals account for a growing percentage of sandwich sales, moving from 46% last year to 52% currently.
Greencore’s operations have shown significant growth, reporting a full-year revenue increase to £1.7 billion, up from £1.3 billion in the previous year. Despite engaging in discussions with the Unite union since January, the company’s pay offer was rejected. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, criticized Greencore for failing to share their profits adequately with workers, highlighting the company’s substantial earnings while employee wages remain unchanged.
Andy Shaw from Unite noted that it is crucial for Greencore to reassess their stance and engage in meaningful negotiations to avoid the impending strike. The company, in turn, expressed their disappointment over the union’s decision, stating that their final pay proposal was both strong and competitive, albeit rejected by a small percentage of union members.
As the situation develops, Greencore is preparing to implement various mitigation measures at their Manton Wood site in Worksop to minimise disruption. However, the looming strike poses significant concerns over sandwich supply continuity in supermarkets, possibly affecting consumer choices substantially.
The impending strike at Greencore highlights ongoing tensions over wage disparities, posing potential disruptions to the UK’s popular supermarket meal deals.
